What was one of the major causes of the War of 1812?

One of the major causes of the War of 1812 was the impressment of American seamen. This practice involved the British Navy forcibly recruiting American sailors to serve on their ships, claiming they were British deserters. It effectively violated American sovereignty and outraged the public and government. The impressment issue became a focal point of tension between the United States and Britain, leading to widespread calls for military action to defend national honor and protect American citizens at sea.

In contrast, the other options pertain to earlier historical events or issues. Taxation without representation was a pivotal grievance leading to the American Revolutionary War rather than the War of 1812. The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest against British taxation that occurred before the independence movement was solidified and does not relate to the causes of the War of 1812. Colonial independence itself refers to the establishment of the United States as a sovereign nation following the Revolutionary War, thus predating the War of 1812 and not being a direct cause of it.