Final answer:
The fairness of the British expectation for American colonists to pay for the French and Indian War is debatable. Colonists felt they had contributed enough and were exploited without representation, leading towards independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether it was fair for the British to expect the American colonists to pay for the French and Indian War is a complex issue.
The war began due to territorial disputes in North America and was part of global conflicts involving European powers; however, many colonists felt they had already contributed to the war effort.
British leaders argued that the war was fought to protect the colonies and therefore they should assume some of the financial burden.
Despite British investments, colonial leaders felt exploitation as they lacked direct representation in Parliament, leading to resentment that contributed to the path toward independence.
This laid the groundwork for revolutionary principles such as "no taxation without representation" and the questioning of policies like the Quartering Act and other acts imposed by the British to raise revenues, which colonists viewed as unjust.