Final answer:
The cost of the Seven Years' War was imposed on the British subjects in North America due to the debt accrued by Britain. After the war, Britain sought to tax the colonies to pay for the expenses of the conflict, leading to opposition and rising tensions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cost for the Seven Years' War was primarily laid upon the British subjects in North America. Great Britain's national debt had nearly doubled as a result of the war, escalating from £75 million in 1756 to £133 million by 1763.
Interest payments comprised more than half the national budget. Given the significant territorial gains the British made in North America post-war, it was believed that the colonists there should contribute their share towards the financial burdens incurred by Great Britain in securing global supremacy.
As a consequence, the British government decided to end their policy of 'salutary neglect' following the conclusion of the French and Indian War. This decision led to the implementation of various measures designed to raise revenue from the colonies, igniting widespread colonial opposition and setting the stage for future conflicts, symbolized by the rallying cry 'no taxation without representation'.