Since the founding of the colonies many settlers have managed to exercise precious rights such as the freedom of speech, free press and the vote in colonial assemblies. The Americans also had more freedom of religion than they had in Europe. Each colony even had an assembly in which the citizens vote. Although only males could vote, when compared to other parts of the world, America was more democratic. Fortunately the British government did not have stringent arbitrary control over the colonies. For example the hated navigation laws that were once strongly enforced were no longer enforced as heavily. The navigation laws were enforced to protect the mercantilism system. This mercantilism system made the colonists purchase goods exclusively from England and all European goods destined for America first had to taxed by the British. The colonies lived without much British control for many years also known as a time of salutary neglect. Armed with salutary neglect, the colonists could make a new government from the wilderness. These colonists wanted to model their governments after the ancient Greek and Roman republics that do not allow unjust institutions such as aristocracy and monarchy. The colonists were supporters of the Whig party, this party disliked a strong monarchy or Parliament that will encroach on liberty.