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What was the most likely reason for the change in the British policy of Salutary Neglect after 1763? Explain the development that led to this change.

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Final answer:

The change in the British policy of Salutary Neglect after 1763 was primarily due to the financial strains of the French and Indian War, leading to enforcement of laws and taxes to raise revenues, causing colonial discontent and contributing to the start of the American Revolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely reason for the change in the British policy of Salutary Neglect after 1763 was the outcome of the French and Indian War. Salutary neglect was the British policy of not strictly enforcing laws in its colonies, believing that this would allow the colonies to flourish and thereby benefit the British Empire overall.

This term was later described by Edmund Burke as a "wise and salutary neglect" that led to the successful economic development of the colonies. However, the end of the war came with heavy costs, and the British government decided to raise revenues to offset its debts and the expenses of maintaining the colonies. To achieve this, Parliament passed a series of acts that aimed to tighten control over the colonies, which included stricter enforcement of trade laws and new taxes.

The abandonment of salutary neglect led to widespread discontent among the American colonists, who had grown accustomed to a significant degree of self-rule and economic freedom. The shift in British policy, which included acts designed to generate revenue from the colonies, ultimately sowed the seeds of resistance that resulted in the American Revolution.

This change also impacted the relations between the British and the various Indian tribes, as the British sought to administer more control over territories and interactions with the Native American populations.

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