Final answer:
British tax policies in the colonies were restrictive and created tensions, particularly due to acts like the Sugar Act and Stamp Act. These taxes were seen as arbitrary and negatively impacted the colonial economy and political autonomy, leading to widespread discontent.
Step-by-step explanation:
British tax policies in the colonies can be described as restrictive and burdensome, leading to increased tensions, which would align with option A. These policies were part of a series of imperial reforms to extend greater British control and fund the debts of the Empire. The imposition of taxes, such as the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, were seen as arbitrary and oppressive, fueling discontent among the colonists. Not only did these taxes place financial strain on the colonies by demanding payment in scarce gold and silver, but they also represented a shift in political power. The colonies had previously enjoyed a degree of autonomy through the concept of 'the power of the purse,' but the new taxes served to undermine this, reducing colonial influence over British officials residing in the colonies.