Final answer:
The French and Indian War was a long-term cause of the American Revolution as it changed the balance of power in North America and led to British policies that increased taxation and regulation, fueling colonial unrest and a desire for independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The French and Indian War played a critical role as a long-term cause of the American Revolution. The victory of the British Empire over France in the war brought about several significant changes that sowed the seeds of discontent among the British colonists in America. With the French no longer a threat, British colonists turned their attention to the increasingly restrictive policies imposed by the British government, which sought to manage the imperial debt incurred during the war. The expenses of the war had to be recouped, and this led to increased taxation and regulation of the colonies, stirring unrest and a growing desire for autonomy.
The war changed the balance of power in North America, making the British the dominant force on the continent. The rejection of the Albany Plan of Union, in which Benjamin Franklin proposed a plan for collective colonial defense and governance, underscored the colonies' desire for self-governance, setting the stage for resistance to British control. Subsequent events, such as Pontiac's Rebellion, further highlighted the tensions between colonists and Native American tribes, which British policies sought to manage but often exacerbated.
All these factors contributed to an environment ripe for revolutionary thought and action. The British government's responses to challenges in enforcing their new policies further alienated the colonists, creating a rift that eventually led to the American Revolution. The French and Indian War, distinct from but connected to the global Seven Years' War, thus stands as a monumental event leading the colonists on a path toward seeking independence from British rule.