What was Proprietary Government a failure?

• A. It centralized power too much
• B. It violated royal authority
• C. The men chosen to be Governors were inappropriate and were weak and easily corrupted
• D. It relied too heavily on merchants

Answer: (C)

In proprietary government, the landowners or their appointed governors hold the power to run the colony. When the people chosen to govern are inappropriate—weak, self‑interested, and easily corrupted—they can be swayed by personal gain, fail to enforce laws, or grant favors to friends. That kind of leadership undermines trust in both the governor and the proprietors, leads to corrupt practices, and fuels conflicts with colonial assemblies and settlers. Over time, these failures in leadership make the arrangement unstable and difficult to sustain, which is why this view of the governors themselves is the best explanation for why proprietary government faltered. The other ideas miss the root cause, which is the impact of weak or corrupt leaders on the system.