The basic cause of the growth of conflict was tension
between the British need for revenues and the American desire for independence.
Before the French and Indian War, the American colonies had been left more or
less to themselves. During this period, they got used to having relative
autonomy and came to see it as a right. At the same time, the colonies were increasing
in population and economic strength and becoming less dependent on the mother
country.
After the war, the British needed funds to pay for the war
and other costs of empire. They felt the Americans should help to pay so they
imposed taxes and tried to increase British control of the colonies to ensure
smooth flow of revenues. This need came into conflict with the expectations the
colonists had built over the years.
