Final answer:
Americans targeted British officers as part of their colonial resistance towards British imperial policies and military actions. Targeting officers was a tactic aimed at disrupting command within British ranks, which was evidenced during skirmishes like the battles at Lexington and Concord where British attempts to seize supplies led to their retreat after facing larger militia forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reasons for the Americans targeting British officers during the conflicts leading up to and including the Revolutionary War are rooted in their desire for independence and response to British policies and military actions. Incidents like the Boston Tea Party, and the attack on the USS Chesapeake, along with the enforcement of tax laws and British attempts to disarm and arrest leaders of the Patriotic movement, caused resentment to boil over. Militias such as the Minutemen were formed in reaction to these British policies and were involved in early clashes such as those at Lexington and Concord. In these battles, American forces often targeted British officers in an effort to disrupt command and control within British ranks. British tactics and colonial resistance played a vital role in these engagements. Notably, when British troops tried to seize and destroy supplies at Concord, they encountered overwhelming militia forces, leading to a retreat back to Boston with significant losses.