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How did British colonial policy toward American colonies change after 1660?

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Map of North America in 1763 using color coding to show colonial territories: the 13 American colonies in red along the Atlantic coast, other British territory in orange across much of present-day Canada, Spanish territory in purple covering most of the southern and western regions, Russian territory in green in the northwest, and large areas of unclaimed land in white. Major bodies of water such as the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay are labeled. — Western colonialism North America during the colonial period.

Following the royal Restoration in 1660, British colonial policy shifted toward more centralized control and stricter regulation of trade to serve the interests of the English economy.12

Strengthening Imperial Control

After 1660, Parliament reinforced and expanded the Navigation Acts to restrict colonial trade to English ships and ensure that "enumerated articles"—such as sugar, tobacco, and indigo—were shipped exclusively to England or its colonies. To enforce these regulations, the government established specialized institutions, including the Board of Trade in 1696 and Vice-Admiralty courts, which operated without juries to prosecute trade violations.314

Political Reorganization

The British government also sought to tighten political oversight. The crown increasingly converted colonies into royal provinces, directly appointing governors to oversee administration. In the 1680s, this effort culminated in the creation of the Dominion of New England, an attempt to consolidate several colonies under a single, centralized authority.5

While these measures aimed to increase imperial power, the administration remained geographically dispersed and often loose due to the distance between London and the colonies, eventually leading to the period of salutary neglect in the 18th century.45