Main cause of the American Revolution

What was the main cause of the American Revolution? Briefly describe the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. What role did the Sons of Liberty play in the Revolution and why? Why was the Declaration of Independence written (i.e. why did Revolutionary leaders feel it was necessary)? How are the ideas of the Enlightenment represented in this document? Be specific. What impact did the American Revolution have in other parts of the world?
What is imperialism? Which nations or regions of the world sought to create Empires in the late 1800s? What were their motivations for doing so? Include a discussion of (White Man’s Burden) in your response. What were some of the examples of imperialism we discussed/read about in class (hint: India, China, Africa, Japan, Cuba, Mexico)? Discuss at least three and explain why these can be considered imperialism. Note, one of your examples MUST be the Belgian Congo and should utilize that document, specifically.