Final answer:
Colonists resisted British policies through petitions, boycotts, and the formation of assemblies, responding to acts like the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, which culminated in the Boston Tea Party and setting the stage for independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early colonists resisted British policies in various ways before the American Revolution fully ignited. They showed their discontent mainly through petitions, boycotts, and formation of extralegal assemblies. The colonists' resistance was a reaction to multiple acts imposed by the British parliament:
The Stamp Act of 1765, which levied taxes on printed materials, sparked widespread protests and the slogan "No taxation without representation!".
To combat the cost of their defense post-French and Indian War, the British passed the Sugar Act and the Townshend Acts, leading to boycotts and growing unity amongst the colonies.
The infamous Boston Tea Party in 1773 was a direct action against the Tea Act, part of a series of colonial protests that escalated tensions.
The Intolerable Acts and the Quartering Act further exacerbated the situation, motivating the formation of the First Continental Congress as a unified colonial response.
Through these acts of resistance, the American colonies began the journey towards independence, ultimately declaring it in 1776 after years of growing disenchantment with British rule.