What is salutary neglect and why did it happen what was the impact and effect of it and why is it considered?

Question

to be a cause of the revolutionary war?

Answer 1

First, "salutary" means "beneficial, wholesome"
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/salutary

The term "salutary neglect" comes from a speech by Edmund Burke before Parliament on March 22, 1775 ("On Moving His Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies"). He used it to speak spoke of Britain's FORMER policy toward its American colonies.

In context:

"I know that the Colonies in general owe little or nothing to any care of ours, and that they are not squeezed into this happy form by the constraints of watchful and suspicious government, but that, THROUGH A WISE AND SALUTARY NEGLECT, a generous nature has been suffered to take her own way to perfection; when I reflect upon these effects, when I see how profitable they have been to us, I feel all the pride of power sink, and all presumption in the wisdom of human contrivances melt and die away within me. My rigour relents. I pardon something to the spirit of liberty."

(see section 1.3.30 - quote appears at end)
http://www.econlib.org/LIBRARY/LFBooks/Burke/brkSWv1c3.html


What Burke was referring to was the practice of NOT actively enforcing taxes and being heavily involved in the local governing of the colonies. What Britain had done, at first for lack of a plan, and later more by design (Walpole was a great proponent of NOT enforcing the taxes) was largely to let the colonies handle their OWN affairs -- from self-protection to passing their own laws

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/prerevolution/terms.html

http://712educators.about.com/cs/historyarlessons/l/blamrevsal.htm


This approach was actually quite different from what OTHER nations did, and what was expected. Under the "mercantalist" system, colonies existed entirely for the benefit of the mother country.

A related difference was that the English colonies grew much larger than, e.g., French colonies. They were not simply "outposts" but developed into a whole society.

As a result of the freedom (AND responsibility) these colonies were quite prosperous AND used to acting independently in many matters. They 'knew how to take care of themselves'.

Now SOME in Britain argued for CONTINUING this basic approach, regarding the prosperity and strength of the colonies as a boon to them. But after the French & Indian War George III adopted a different approach -- with the British government taking much more of a hand in colonial government AND collecting taxes. This was motivated in PART by the desire to recoup its debts from the war, but ALSO --and increasingly-- from feeling the need to assert AUTHORITY (the RIGHT to collect taxes, etc) over the colonies

As noted, under the approach of "salutary neglect" a strong "spirit of liberty" (as Burke calls it) had developed in the colonies. And the people did not respond well to assertions of authority (along with tax demands) from Britain.

In other words, "salutary neglect" had produced a SYSTEM in many ways independent of Britain, and a SPIRIT that wanted to KEEP that. It was this system and spirit running up against the change in policies after the French and Indian War that may be seen as a major CAUSE of the responses and attitude that culminated in the Revolution.

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The following link to an online edition of Burke's speech opens with a helpful INTRODUCTION to the POLITICAL SITUATION, including the history of the policies of 'salutary neglect' (of the taxations acts). Note esp the first two paragraphs which contrast this former policy with the shift in policy at the end of the war with France --
http://www.fullbooks.com/Burke-s-Speech-on-Conciliation-with-America1.html

compare also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salutary_neglect

You might also find this article helpful:
"Why Did The American Colonists Revolt?" by Thomas Ash
http://www.bigissueground.com/history/ash-uscolonists.shtml