How did england view its north american colonies?

As fellow British subjects, which was the reason why we defended it when the dastardly French tried to take it from the colonists during the seven years war.

Although there was a general feeling that those in the colonies should be allowed their own government/country especially in Westminster (even though the colonies HAD been offered representation four times in the house of commons and THEY had turned it down). This is one of the reasons why Britains heart wasn't really in the fight during the revolution and why the majority of "British" troops were actually Hessian, Hanoverian, mercenaries and mainly colonists loyal to the Crown. It was partially regarded as England's second Civil War.
As regards the tax question that others harp on about, the colonists were paying the lowest amount of anyone in the British dominions, including Britons themselves. The average Briton paid £26 per year, the average colonial just £1 per year.

The led the formation to the united states