Commentary
For 150 years, the British American colonists had been the beneficiaries of salutary neglect, which enabled them to self-govern yet remain loyal to the British crown. The colonists had tamed the colonial wilderness, raised families, established commercial lines, and built towns and cities along the eastern seaboard. They learned through their experience with and understanding of British law how to govern properly. By 1763—the end of the French and Indian War—the colonies were home to the most free and arguably the most prosperous place on Earth. After a century and a half, the British benefit was coming to an end.
