FREE ESSAY ON THE INFLUENCE OF SOLITARY NEGLECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT

THE INFLUENCE OF SOLITARY NEGLECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT

England established colonies in America to provide them with raw materials. England passed
the Navigation Acts to enforce mercantilism. During the seventeen hundreds England was
suffering from many hardships. England became preoccupied and could not enforce the
Navigation Acts. This was known as a period of solitary neglect. Solitary neglect
influenced the development of American society. Its influence can be seen in America's
legislative assemblies, commerce, and religion.
By seventeen-fifty Colonial America was governed by the colonist. Although England still
owned the colonies, the colonist reacted to the colonial government rather than England.
Many colonies in the New World passed acts, which allowed them to be self-governed. The
pilgrims in Plymouth signed the Mayflower Compact, which said they would rule themselves
although they are a colony of England. Virginia established the House of Burgesses and a
representative democracy. A representative democracy means citizens vote on the person
they want to represent them. Connecticut wrote a document entitled "The Fundamental
Orders of Connecticut. This reinforced self-government and the ideas of representative
government. 
England had a mercantilist economy. Mercantilism means, governmental control is exercised
over industry and trade in accordance with the theory that national strength is increased
by a majority of exports over imports. They established colonies in America to provide
England with raw materials. The mother country brought the raw materials from the
colonies and manufactured them. They then sold the new manufactured goods back to the
colonies at a high price in order to create revenue. England passed the Navigation Acts
to enforce mercantilism. Navigation acts were legislation passed by the English
Parliament in the 17th and 18th centuries to promote and protect English industry and
commerce against foreign competition. The Navigation acts consisted of three parts. The
first part said trades two and from the colonies must be made on English or Colonial
built ships. The second said that all goods in imported into the colonies must go through
England. The third part said that there were certain goods called enumerated goods that
could be only exported to England. Eventually all colonial goods would be enumerated. Due
to England's neglect of enforcing the Navigation acts the colonist engaged in smuggling.
In sixteen eighty-eight England established the Dominion of New England, which was lead
by Edmund Andros. He was sent to the New World to enforce the Navigation Acts. The
Dominion of New England was abandoned when William and Mary overthrew King James II. 
Religious toleration became a major characteristic of colonial America. England failed to
mandate the Anglican Religion in all colonies. As a result many religions developed.
Moreover many colonies passed toleration acts such as Maryland, which passed an act that
provided for religious freedom. Due to this people of many religions, such as Quakers and
Roman Catholics, settled in the colonies. The middle colonies had the most diverse
religious group. This contributed to Americas distinct makeup and aided it in becoming
more unlike England. 
In conclusion England's Solitary neglect influenced the development of American society.
Politically the colonies were given too much freedom by England to govern themselves.
This eventually lead to the Americas resistance toward England. Economically England's
neglect of the Navigation acts allowed the colonist to illegally control trade to and
from America. Religiously America's religious toleration led to its distinct traits and
made it more different from England.