Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

Proprietary colonies are distinguished by land being granted by the King to individuals or groups, who then exercise control over the land and governance. The proprietors had the authority to establish the colony's government and make decisions regarding its administration, including establishing laws and appointing officials. This arrangement allowed for a significant degree of autonomy for the proprietor, who operated with a charter from the Crown, but was still ultimately under royal oversight.

In essence, proprietary colonies represent a system where individual proprietors held both the land and the power to govern, which differs distinctly from other forms of colonial governance, such as royal colonies where the Crown retained greater control, or charter colonies that emphasized self-governance with more direct participation from the colonists. The focus on individual control underlines the unique nature of proprietary colonies in the broader framework of colonial America.