Why did the colonists fight the British?

The colonists fought the British primarily because of high taxes imposed by the British government. After sustaining significant debts from the French and Indian War, Britain sought to recuperate its finances through taxation on the American colonies. Laws such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts levied taxes on everyday items and documents, which angered many colonists who felt they were being unfairly taxed without representation in Parliament. The rallying cry of "no taxation without representation" encapsulated the frustrations of colonists who believed they should not be taxed by a government in which they had no political voice. This discontentment fueled widespread protests and ultimately led to open rebellion against British rule, making high taxes a central issue in the lead-up to the American Revolution.