Final answer:
The New Jersey colony's government evolved from a proprietary system with religious toleration attracting diverse settlers to a divided colony experiencing tensions between governance and settlers, all against the backdrop of potential wealth generation for the English monarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government of the New Jersey colony underwent significant changes throughout its early history, particularly as the colony's population increased. Initially, under the Concessions and Agreement of 1665, a governing structure was established that provided for an annually elected representative assembly and liberty of conscience, appealing to religious groups such as Puritans and later Quakers. Despite this structure, tensions arose with the appointment of Philip Carteret as governor, leading to unrest and the eventual division of the colony into East Jersey and West Jersey in 1676.
The proprietary colony was an instrument of the English monarchy to reward allies and potentially enrich the monarchy through commerce. However, religious toleration also attracted a variety of settlers to New Jersey, influencing the colony's social and economic dynamics. Over time, as the colony grew, the struggle for an independent government intensified, laying the groundwork for eventual independence from British rule.