Why do the British call the American Revolution a rebellion?

The British refer to the American Revolution as a rebellion because they viewed it as an unlawful uprising against legitimate authority. To them, the American colonies were subject to British rule and governance, and the revolutionaries' actions were seen as an attempt to overturn that established system. This perspective reflects the British belief in the sovereignty of the crown and the legal framework that governed the colonies at the time. The term "rebellion" emphasizes their view of the conflict as an insurrection rather than a legitimate struggle for independence.