The American Revolution was caused by economic and political tensions between the British colonies and the United Kingdom that arose following the Seven Years' War. These tensions were exacerbated by new taxes imposed on the colonies without colonial representation in British Parliament. Ideas of liberalism and American identity that emerged during this time further fueled revolutionary sentiments in the colonies. The American Revolution established the United States as an independent federal republic with a written constitution, marking both the first successful decolonization and modern democratic revolution.