The British first attempted colonization in the Americas in 1584 with the establishment of the colony known as Roanoke. The first colonists experienced disease, war with Native Americans, and their lack of preparation led to a struggle for survival. Roanoke is known as the lost colony.
The second attempt of the British to settle in the Americas was the establishment of Jamestown in the current state of Virginia in 1607. It was founded by the Virginia Company on the bank of the James River. The success of this colony was based on the tobacco crop and a peace between the Algonquin tribe of Native Americans following the marriage of John Rolfe to Pocahontas. |
Salutary Neglect
During the mid 1600s the British Parliament mostly left the colonies alone, experiencing a period of salutary neglect and allowing them to develop their own political institutions, due to civil war in England. Salutary neglect is the policy of loose implementation of British law by colonial political institutions. This period, known as the Glorious Revolution in England, was fraught with struggle between the citizens of England, Parliament, and the government leading to the overthrow of King James. The king was replaced with William and Mary who agreed to abide by the English Bill of Rights. The English Bill of Rights forces the monarchy to recognize the supremacy of Parliament and its right to make tax law. |