Final answer:
The American colonies responded to British taxation by protesting and boycotting, which culminated in the Boston Tea Party and the convening of the First Continental Congress, laying the groundwork for the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Americancolonies’ reaction to British taxation policies was marked by increasing discontent and actions that challenged British authority. After the costly Seven Years War, Britain sought to tax the colonies to help pay off war debts. The imposition of various acts, including the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, and the subsequent Intolerable Acts, aggravated the colonists, who felt these taxes were unconstitutional since they had no representation in Parliament. The colonies reacted with measures ranging from boycotts to outright rebellion, most famously exemplified by the Boston Tea Party in 1773.
Led by Patriot groups like the Sons of Liberty, the colonies protested aggressively, insisting such taxes could not be levied without their consent (“no taxation without representation”). This became a foundational grievance that would eventually lead to the American Revolution. The First Continental Congress convened as a response, representing an unprecedented step towards colonial unity and the formation of a de facto government that challenged British rule.