Final answer:
Option (D), The policy of salutary neglect led to an increase in self-government in the English colonies in America by allowing colonial assemblies to govern more autonomously, as England was often preoccupied with its own issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The policy of salutary neglect impacted self-government in the English colonies in America by increasing it. The colonial governments took advantage of the distance between themselves and England, along with the British crown's distractions, such as wars in Europe, to exercise more control over their own affairs. The policy of salutary neglect allowed colonies to become accustomed to self-governance, establishing their own legislative assemblies which mirrored the representative government they knew from England.
Furthermore, the property qualifications in the colonies enabled more men to vote, establishing a deeper connection between the government and its constituents. This resulted in colonial assemblies enjoying more trust and support from the colonists compared to the appointed governors. The dynamic between the assemblies and the governors often led to the former's demands being accepted, further embedding the practices of self-government within the colonies.
As the colonial politics evolved, so did the colonists' belief in their rights and liberties under British laws, such as the Bill of Rights. They believed they had the right to protest against Parliament's policies, reinforcing their self-governing traditions which ultimately became a foundation for the American Revolution.