British taxation policies on the American colonies, such as the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Acts of 1767, were implemented to help pay for the costs associated with the Seven Years' War and maintain British troops stationed in the Americas. These taxes were levied without colonial representation in Parliament, leading to the colonial protest slogan "No taxation without representation." The colonists viewed these taxes as illegitimate and an infringement on their rights as Englishmen, leading them to engage in various forms of resistance, including boycotts of British goods, the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty, and violent demonstrations. This escalating tension and the continued imposition of taxes and regulations on trade, such as the Tea Act of 1773, which precipitated the Boston Tea Party, fueled the growing desire for independence. Ultimately, the perceived economic exploitation and political disenfranchisement by the British government galvanized the colonists and played a significant role in triggering the outbreak of the American Revolution.
