What arguments did the colonist use to support their call for independence?

Answer 1

- Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
- King George III violated the rights of the colonists by taxing and passing unfair laws; British army violated the colonists rights too
- colonists had the right to break away from Britain because the government should protect the people, but King George III didn't do that.

Answer 2

The colonists argued that the British Parliament was treating them poorly, and protested against "taxation without representation." The colonists resented not having a say in British Parliamentary decisions, claiming that the Crown did not allow the colonies any representation.

In response, the British government reminded the colonists that all denizens in the British Empire were considered British subjects and thus, were represented in Parliament as equally as English citizens.

The colonies also argued that the Crown was growing richer by passing laws that increase British revenue at the expense of her colonies, such as the Navigation Acts. The British countered by explaining the maintenance of an empire was actually burdensome on the economy, not beneficial, and that the economic acts Parliament passed were to help raise revenue to pay debts incurred for the protection of the colonists themselves.