What was a primary reason for the colonists fighting the British?

The primary reason for the colonists fighting the British was high taxes and lack of self-government. Leading up to the American Revolution, many colonists felt that they were being unfairly taxed without representation in Parliament. This slogan of "no taxation without representation" became a rallying cry, as colonists believed that only their own colonial assemblies had the right to tax them. They were frustrated with the British government's policies, which imposed taxes on common goods like paper, tea, and glass through acts such as the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts, while denying them a say in their governance.

The desire for self-government was also pivotal; colonists wanted the ability to create their own laws and manage their own affairs without British interference. This lack of agency fueled resentment and ultimately led to a desire for independence, culminating in the Revolutionary War. While factors such as the desire for land, religious freedom, and trade restrictions played roles in the broader context of colonial dissatisfaction, the issues of taxation and representation were central to the revolutionary fervor that sparked the fight against British rule.