Great britain and the colonies were in debt from what war?

the French and Indian War

The British thought the colonists should help pay for the cost of their own protection. Furthermore, the French and Indian War had cost the British treasury £70,000,000 and doubled their national debt to £140,000,000. Compared to this staggering sum, the colonists' debts were extremely light, as was their tax burden.

the american revolutionary war.

Explanation:

These colonies were formally known as British America and the British West Indies before the Thirteen Colonies declared their independence in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and formed the United States of America.