The colonial trend of having local governments that were increasingly independent from British control was most likely caused by the growing power of the colonial elite. As the colonies grew in wealth and population, the local elites became more educated and began to develop their own political ideas and identities. They began to resent British control and wanted more autonomy to make their own decisions. This led to increasing demands for local self-government, which eventually culminated in the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States of America.