Final answer:
Great Britain allowed colonial self-governance due to the impracticality of direct oversight across the vast distances, the high level of political engagement among colonists, and distractions from international affairs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Great Britain allowed colonies to set up their own governments for several reasons. Firstly, the distance and the time lag in communication between Britain and her colonies made it impractical to wait for decisions from London. Additionally, the colonies were vast and covered a wide area, making centralized control difficult. Secondly, there was a high level of political engagement among colonists, many of whom had the right to vote and felt a connection to their local governments. This participatory governance model required local authorities to be responsive to the colonists' needs. British attention was also often diverted by other international issues, such as wars with France and Spain. As a result, the governance model took the shape of a hybrid system: it resembled the British structure but also incorporated a significant degree of local self-government facilitated by the colonial assemblies which were more in tune with local sentiments.
The crown did attempt to impose more control during the Restoration period, but these efforts were balanced against the colonies' expectations and the practical need for them to manage their own affairs to some extent. The system of mercantilism and the benefits it provided to both Britain and the colonies influenced this balance of power and control. Ultimately, the administrations adopted in the royal, proprietary, and corporate colonies all provided avenues for local self-governance while maintaining the overarching authority of the crown, within limits.