The rejection of the Albany Plan of Union by several colonial governments stemmed from a deep-seated reluctance to relinquish authority to a unified, intercolonial body. Each colony possessed a distinct identity, economic structure, and political system, fostering a sense of independence and self-governance. Colonial assemblies, protective of their power, feared that the plan would diminish their individual autonomy and subject them to the dictates of a larger, potentially overbearing entity.
This resistance highlights the prevailing characteristic of the colonies in the mid-18th century: a strong commitment to local control and a suspicion of centralized power. The individual colonies were primarily concerned with addressing their own specific needs and protecting their own interests, viewing intercolonial cooperation as a threat to their established way of life. The historical context of this rejection underscores the difficulty in forging a unified front among disparate entities, each possessing its own agenda and priorities.
