Salutary neglect was the unofficial British policy that was started by prime minister Robert Walpole. It was meant to relax the strict regulations and trade laws imposed on American colonies. The main idea behind this policy was that by loosening their grip on the colonies they could focus on European affairs. This policy helped the colonies to prosper by trading with other countries and spending the wealth on British goods and at the same time selling the raw materials to the Britain. The downside of the policy for the British was that this allowed the colonies to grow independently and forming American Identity.
