Some historians argue taxation without representation started the war, others the violation of rights attempting to enforce these taxes caused the war, and still others argue that the Founders used rhetoric about rights to manipulate common people into a war for the Founders financial and political benefit.
When one examines, the Articles of Confederation, however, the causes of the war reveal themselves clearly.
What powers did and didn’t the Continental Congress give themselves during a time of war against the world’s greatest empire at the time? For example, they didn’t give themselves the power to tax (even while fighting a war) or the power to draft people into the military.
They did, however, give themselves the power to create a post office, to spread the news and to inform people.