The United States of 2015 offers a radically different lifestyle from that of our ancestors. In today's modern America, it is difficult to rethink and imagine the lives of those who came before us. Most people take for granted the freedom they enjoy every day. This freedom may be due in part to Britain's unofficial policy of salutary neglect. The word "salutary" meaning favorable and promoting health, this policy was Britain's way of letting its American colonies prosper. This policy offered an assortment of advantages and disadvantages to both Britain and the colonies, while sowing a seed among the colonies that would change the country forever. In the early 1600s, Britain began to adopt a system of mercantilism; the idea of ​​a country being almost solely self-sufficient, by exporting more than it imports. To achieve this goal, the British Parliament enacted the Navigation Acts in its American colonies. The four laws were: only English or English colonial ships could transport goods between imperial ports, certain goods, including tobacco, rice and furs, could only be shipped to foreign countries via England or Scotland, the English Parliament would pay "bonuses". to Americans who produced certain raw goods, while increasing protectionist tariffs on the same goods produced in other countries, and the Americans could not compete with English manufacturers in large-scale manufacturing. These acts greatly restricted trade within the colonies and also angered many colonists. Instead of following these laws, the settlers began smuggling goods. Even though the British were fully aware of the violation of the laws, they ignored it. It was the idea of ​​salutary neglect proposed by the British President...... middle of paper ...... for Britain, all good things must come to an end. It should have been expected that colonies as resourceful and rapidly growing as those in America would eventually desire their own government and way of life. The policy of salutary neglect was an excellent springboard for the colonies to act in favor of a revolution. Works Cited Kelly, Martin. “Salutary neglect”. About.com. 2011. The New York Times Society. August 11, 2011. < http://americanhistory.about.com/od/americanhistoryterms/g/salutary_neglec.htm>Streich, Michael. “Causes of the Revolutionary War and salutary neglect.” Suite101.com. August 11, 2011. “The colonial economy: mercantilism”. Sparknotes.com. 2011. Sparknotes. August 11, 2011