After the French and Indian War, Great Britain passed laws that (to their perspective) tried to protect their American colonies. The colonists saw them as harsh and, quote, intolerable acts. Beginning with the Proclamation of 1679 (my year is uncertain, but it restricted access past the Appalachian Mtn.s) and going on with the Sugar Act, the Tea Act, etc.; the Americans felt attacked. Besides, the colonial representatives had no voice in the House of Lords and in the British Parliament. In the draft of the D.o.I., Jefferson called the passing of these laws as the abuse of the king's power. In the DoI, the founding fathers stressed the importance of representative voice in the central govt.
Hope this helps.
