The long-standing conflict that began with the British Crown's mercantile policies is known as the American Revolution. Starting in the mid-18th century, escalating tensions arose from Britain's imposition of taxes, trade regulations, and restrictions on colonial manufacturing, embodied in measures like the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts. These policies fueled resentment among the American colonists, who sought greater autonomy and representation. The conflict eventually led to the colonies declaring independence in 1776, culminating in a protracted war against British forces that lasted until the Treaty of Paris in 1783, establishing the United States as an independent nation.