The American colonies in the mid-18th century were a thriving part of the British Empire, but tensions had been brewing for decades. What began as minor grievances over trade and governance escalated into a full-scale rebellion. British policies, aimed at tightening control over the colonies, ignited widespread dissatisfaction, planting the seeds of revolution.

One of the earliest sources of discontent was the British system of taxation. The Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765 imposed direct levies on the colonies, enraging merchants, publishers, and legal professionals. The colonists, who had no direct representation in the British Parliament, saw these taxes as a blatant overreach. Their rallying cry—"No taxation without representation"—became a defining slogan of the growing resistance. The Stamp Act's repeal in 1766 provided temporary relief, but the British government soon followed with new policies, including the Townshend Acts, which further strained relations.

The presence of British troops in colonial cities only exacerbated tensions. Stationed to enforce British laws and maintain order, soldiers were often viewed as an occupying force. Clashes between civilians and the military became frequent, culminating in the infamous Boston Massacre of 1770, where British troops fired into a crowd of unarmed colonists, killing five. This event, heavily publicized by Patriot leaders, fueled anti-British sentiment and strengthened calls for defiance.