Final answer:
The French and Indian War had the most influential effect leading to the Revolutionary War, as it altered the balance of power in North America, increased British debt, and prompted Britain to pass revenue-raising measures that incited colonial resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event that had the most influential effect leading to the Revolutionary War was the French and Indian War. This war critically altered the balance of power in North America by eliminating French presence on the continent and significantly increasing the British national debt. It was this financial strain that led Britain to enact various revenue-raising measures, like the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and others, which fueled colonial discontent.
The French and Indian War also highlighted the colonists' developed sense of individual autonomy, setting the stage for conflict as Britain sought to tighten controls with the Proclamation of 1763, Intolerable Acts, and other policies.
The war's aftermath saw the emergence of inter-colony cooperation, ultimately leading to the formation of the Continental Congresses and the Declaration of Independence. Consequently, the French and Indian War's influence is most profound because it initiated a series of reactions that facilitated the colonial uprising and eventual revolution.