What was a major issue that provoked resentment among colonial Americans towards the British?

A major issue that provoked resentment among colonial Americans towards the British was taxes. Following the French and Indian War, Britain sought to increase revenue from its American colonies to help offset war debts and pay for the ongoing costs of defending the colonies. This led to a series of acts imposed by the British government, such as the Stamp Act, the Sugar Act, and the Townshend Acts, which required colonists to pay taxes on various goods and services.

The colonists viewed these taxes as unfair because they had no representation in the British Parliament, leading to the slogan "no taxation without representation." This feeling of injustice was compounded by the perception that Britain was exploiting the colonies economically. The outrage over these taxes fueled the desire for independence and played a pivotal role in the eventual American Revolution.

In contrast, while slavery, interactions with Native Americans, and shipbuilding were significant issues in colonial America, they did not primarily drive the widespread resentment towards British rule in the same way that taxation did.