Why did the settlers in America decide to break away from Britain and was this a good decision?

The grievances that the American colonists had towards the English government are expressed clearly in the Declaration of Independence (1776). Without having to rehash all of them, it can be stated that the colonists rebelled for economic reasons. The British, indebted because of the French and Indian Wars, wanted to secure revenue from the colonies. The Americans, on the other hand, were enjoying the autonomy that was afforded to them by the British during the war. There were many colonists that were prospering economically and politically. The Stamp Act of 1765 was almost universally protested by the American colonists. It had a very negative impact on profit and prosperity. At the same time, the colonists did not have representation in the British Parliament. In its simplest form, these economic and political considerations were key motives for separation.

The question of whether the decision to separate was a sound one is one based on opinion. Most Americans would suggest that their independence from England was a good decision. It allowed the United States to form its own economic and national identity. Many of the great achievements of the United States would not be possible without the American Revolution. There were groups that did not benefit from separation at the time, however, and this should be considered in the answer. Native Americans and African-Americans, for example, did not benefit from the colonies being separated from England, at least not immediately.