Final answer:
The British government shifted from a policy of salutary neglect to imposing tighter controls over the American colonies after the French and Indian War, specifically to raise funds for empire maintenance, which led to colonial resistance and the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Change in the British Government's Attitude Toward the Colonies
The British government's policy shifted from salutary neglect to tighter control post-1754, after the onset of the French and Indian War. This shift was provoked by the desire to manage debt and protect the empire's interests. The British Empire aimed to gain greater control over colonial trade and discourage settlements beyond the Allegheny and Appalachian mountains, much to the dismay of the colonists who expected to expand westward after their war efforts.
Parliament enacted several acts to raise monies for protecting and maintaining the colonies, leading to an uproar among American leaders. They contested these laws which included taxes on various goods and regulations that impinged upon their perceived rights as Englishmen. The notion of 'virtual representation'—that colonists were represented in Parliament even if they did not vote for its members—was especially unpopular among the colonists.
Attempts at conciliation were rejected because they did not align with colonial demands for self-determination and economic freedom. The Conciliatory Proposition presented by Lord North did little to appease the colonies. Instead, it further inflamed tensions, contributing to the rise of the revolutionary sentiment that culminated in the American Revolution.