Many of the fundamental and very important reasons for the War of Independence are overlooked. One important and often overlooked reason for the War of Independence was the religious reason. The Patriots were fighting for religious liberty. While religious liberty wasn't directly under threat of attack, the Patriots knew if the were to be in subject to Britain it would mean giving up the freedoms they cherished most, including religious freedoms.
As said in the handouts, one of the main reasons for the war was that they did not want to suffer religious persecution at the hands of the British. They knew that the British would tyrannize them. They had to fight a war to show the British that they would not tolerate them tyrannizing them and lording over them dictating what freedoms they could have. It is very important to note that they valued these things more than even their very lives. They were willing to fight and even die for their liberties.
The British intent for the War of Independence was to keep the colonies in subjection under them. If they could win the war, America would be theirs by right of conquest and they could then do what they pleased with America. The British viewed the colonies as rebels, and were not afraid to treat them as such. England, I believe, wanted to be in power over the colonies to do with them what the crown saw fit.
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