Final answer:
The erosion of the relationship between the American colonists and the British leading to the Revolutionary War was primarily caused by 'taxation without representation,' Britain's control efforts, and restrictions on the colonists' rights. The British imposition of taxes without colonial electoral representation and control over westward expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Causes of the American Revolutionary War
The events that began to erode the relationship between the colonists and the British Empire, leading to the Revolutionary War of 1776-1783, are multifaceted. Taxation without representation was a principal cause.
Following the French and Indian War, Britain sought to make the colonies cover part of the war expenses and the costs of their protection and maintenance. The Parliament enacted acts such as the Sugar and Stamp Acts to raise revenues, which the colonists strongly opposed.
They insisted on their rights under the British constitution and the principle of only being taxed by a legislature they had elected, rejecting taxes aimed at raising revenue instead of regulating trade as well as internal taxes.
Moreover, there was a spirit of unity and cooperation developing among the colonies, illustrated by the formation of the Committees of Correspondence and the First and Second Continental Congresses. The concept of 'no taxation without representation' became a rallying cry against the British assertion of control and their taxation policies.
Combined with restrictions on westward expansion and the desire to maintain autonomy and political rights, these factors collectively fueled the push towards revolution, encapsulating economic, political, and ideological disputes between the colonies and Great Britain.