The distance between Britain and its colonies had a significant impact on the growth of colonial self-government. The further a colony was from Britain, the more difficult it was for the British government to control it.
* Communication and transportation: In the 18th century, communication and transportation were slow and unreliable. It could take months or even years for messages to travel between Britain and its colonies. This made it difficult for the British government to keep track of what was happening in the colonies and to respond to events quickly.
* Local conditions: The colonies were also very different from each other in terms of their geography, climate, and population. This meant that the British government had to tailor its policies to each colony, which was difficult to do from a distance.
* Local self-government: As a result of these factors, the colonies developed a great deal of self-government. They had their own legislatures, which made laws for the colony. They also had their own governors, who were appointed by the British government but had a great deal of power.
Growth of colonial self-government:
The growth of colonial self-government was also influenced by several other factors, including:
* The American Revolution: The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a major turning point in the history of colonial self-government. The American colonies won their independence from Britain, and this showed other colonies that it was possible to break away from Britain.
* The French Revolution: The French Revolution (1789-1799) also had a major impact on colonial self-government. The French Revolution showed that people could overthrow their government and create a new one, and this inspired many people in the colonies to fight for their own freedom.
* The industrial Revolution: The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) led to a great increase in wealth and economic development in Britain. This made it possible for Britain to devote more resources to its colonies, which allowed the colonies to grow and develop.
As a result of these factors, the colonies gradually gained more and more self-government, and eventually, many of them became independent countries.