Final answer:
The American Revolution was driven primarily by resistance to British mercantilist economic policies, such as the Navigation Acts, and a desire for political self-governance. Colonists wanted economic freedom and autonomy, and as British policies increasingly undermined these aspirations, tensions escalated, leading to the revolt.
Step-by-step explanation:
Economic and Political Reasons for the American Revolution. The economic and political roots of the American Revolution can be traced back to British mercantilist policies, which were designed to benefit the empire. Through the Navigation Acts, British authorities imposed trade restrictions on the colonies, aiming to control and profit from colonial trade. These acts mandated that certain goods produced by the colonies be shipped through England before being exported elsewhere and ensured that the colonies remained a source of raw materials for British manufacturing.
Politically, the British government tried to extend greater control over the colonies. However, the colonists, who had grown accustomed to a degree of autonomy and had developed their own representative assemblies, felt they had the right to govern themselves. This led to backlash against the perceived infringement on their rights. As the British attempts to enforce these policies increased, so did the colonial resistance, culminating in a desire for independence that was fueled by both political and economic freedoms. As the system of mercantilism benefited the British at the expense of colonial economy, the colonists experienced hardships. They faced rampant inflation, shortages of goods, and a sense that their economic interests were being subjugated to the interests of the mother country. The colonists' pushback against British control and economic policies ultimately sparked the conflicts leading to the American Revolution.