Final answer:
The American Revolution was sparked by a complex interplay of economic, political, and ideological factors. Grievances against the British government included unfair taxes, trade restrictions, a lack of representation, and a threat to westward expansion. These issues, topped by Britain's control over the Ohio Valley and the aggression against colonial autonomy, culminated in the colonies declaring independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Causes of the American Revolutionary War
The American colonies of Great Britain revolted against the British Empire for various reasons encompassing economic, political, and ideological disputes.
Despite the colonies' initial loyalty and no intent for full independence, they strongly opposed the tightening grip of Britain which they saw as an infringement on their rights. Key actions by the British government that led to the demand for independence included:
- Imposing new taxes and trade restrictions to pay off war debts and maintain the army in North America.
- Arbitrary enforcement of laws, particularly the much-despised Stamp Act and the requirement for colonists to house soldiers.
- Denial of the right to self-taxation, as the colonists lacked proper representation in the British Parliament.
- Extension of control over lands the colonists expected to settle following the French and Indian War.
- Granting control of the Ohio Valley to Quebec, raising concerns over the spread of French civil law and Catholicism.
- The belief that reconciliation with the Crown was no longer possible following bloody confrontations.
Furthermore, tensions were aggravated by British attempts to curb westward colonial expansion—this, and the consequential alliances with Native Americans and enslaved Africans, only deepened the divide.