Prior to 1763, the British government generally followed a policy of salutary neglect towards the American colonies because it:

a) wished to secure the loyalty of the colonies
b) lacked a well-organized imperial system

I think it is B but i think it could also be A

Check Bobpursley's answer.

http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1221486006

wait but why can't it be B

What evidence do you have that the British didn't have a well-organized imperial system?

i thought since they were fighting wars they didn't have a well organized imperial system

Fighting wars takes a very well organized imperial system.

ok thank you

To determine the correct answer, let's break down the given options and think about the historical context.

The policy of salutary neglect refers to the British government's hands-off approach to governing the American colonies before 1763. This means that they did not strictly enforce colonial policies and regulations, allowing the colonies a degree of self-governance.

Option A suggests that the British government followed this policy to secure the loyalty of the colonies. This is a plausible explanation because by giving the colonies more autonomy and less interference, it could foster a sense of loyalty and contentment among the colonists, making them less likely to revolt or challenge British authority.

Option B suggests that the British government lacked a well-organized imperial system. This implies that the policy of salutary neglect was a result of incompetence or disorganization rather than a deliberate strategy. While this may have been a contributing factor, it does not fully explain the policy of salutary neglect.

To determine the correct answer, we need to consider the broader context of British colonial policies at the time. It is important to note that the British government did have an imperial system and enforced other policies in the colonies, such as the Navigation Acts. The policy of salutary neglect was a deliberate choice within the bigger framework of British colonial governance.

Therefore, the correct answer is likely option A: the British government followed a policy of salutary neglect to secure the loyalty of the colonies. While option B may have played a role, it does not fully capture the intentional nature of the policy.