Final answer:
Salutary neglect allowed the 13 colonies self-rule and economic growth, breeding a spirit of independence that clashed with later British attempts at tighter control, contributing to the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
England's policy of salutary neglect toward the 13 colonies fundamentally shaped their political and economic development. Under this policy, the British government, particularly during Prime Minister Robert Walpole's tenure, allowed the American colonies a degree of autonomy, especially in trade and local governance. This policy arose mainly due to the practical difficulties of micro-managing an empire across the Atlantic and Britain being preoccupied with European wars.
The policy led to a semi-independent political culture in which colonial assemblies gained power and colonists became accustomed to a certain level of self-rule. It also encouraged economic growth, as the colonies, specifically New England, developed a robust maritime trade, even engaging in smuggling to circumvent the less strictly enforced Navigation Acts. Economically, salutary neglect allowed the colonial economy to flourish within the mercantilist framework, encouraging the production of raw materials exchanged for British goods.
However, following the French and Indian War, Britain attempted to tighten control and raise revenues through various acts, such as the infamous Stamp Act. The shift from salutary neglect to direct imposition sparked considerable unrest and ultimately contributed to the American Revolution. Colonists, having tasted self-governance and economic freedom, were not willing to acquiesce to what they perceived as unjust control and taxation without representation.