Final answer:
The British alienated the colonists through economic, political, and ideological disputes, which led to growing popular protest and rebellion, culminating in the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary reasons behind the British alienating the colonists during the period leading up to the American Revolution were a combination of economic, political, and ideological disputes. British efforts to consolidate control over the colonies incited resistance from colonists seeking to maintain their autonomy. Colonists demanded the same rights as their counterparts in Britain, including the ability to levy taxes themselves and resistance to the Crown.
Merchants primarily sought economic freedoms that would release them from British trade restrictions and taxes. Some colonists also resisted British attempts to curb westward expansion and appropriate Native American lands. These diverse motives eventually led to growing popular protest and rebellion, culminating in the American Revolution.