Question

Why were the American colonists driven to declare war on the British Empire

Answer 1

The American colonists were driven to declare war on the British Empire, because they were being oppressed, and not treated as citizens. They believed that the British had no right to impose more taxes on them, and so declared independence

hope this helps

Answer 2

The declared war because the British were giving taxes on the colonists without giving them the right to vote in parliament which was a right they used to have in England.
Many other events lead the colonists to delclare war, like:
-The French and Indian War
-The Quartering Act
-The Stamp Act
-The Townsend Act
-The Boston Teaparty
-The Boston Massacre
(to name a few)