In the beginning of the war, colonists were upset that they were being taxed from the British, for a war they had nothing to do with. Many of the colonists rebeled and they wanted to be independent. So all and all. They fought to form a new nation because they didn't want to be under British rule; a country 3,000 miles away.
Philosophers of the European Enlightenment favored the protection of Individual rights.
1. The colonist wanted freedom from the British
2. The colonist wanted to make their own country with their own government
Great Britain increased taxes on many items in the colonies.