An unexpected result of British salutary neglect was that

The question contains the following options:

A) the colonies became richer than Britain wanted.

B) the colonies' dependence on British rule grew.

C) the colonies developed a separate American identity.

D) the colonies began to develop self-government.

Answer:

The Correct answer is C) the colonies developed a separate American identity.

Explanation:

Salutary neglect was a policy of the British where they did they did strictly enforce the country's laws, legislature and even taxes. This policy was maintained in the early years of Britain's presence in the New World, in order to ensure a dependence and obedience of the colonies to Britain.

This policy was possibly not deliberate, since in the early years of British colonial adventures, the government did not even have formal legislature to maintain overseas colonies.

However, as the colonies began to become profitable and the British started to invest more, the government in London began to gradually enforce stricter laws and taxation. This was too late, since over the course of the last two generations, the colonists had developed a distinct identity from England and believed that Britain should not have authority over them.

This eventually lead to the Revolutionary war.