Final answer:
The concept of natural rights, including religious freedom, led colonists to consider independence from England as these were seen as inalienable rights that the British were failing to protect, fostering the idea that liberty could best be guaranteed through a self-governed nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea of natural rights pertaining to religion influenced the colonists to consider independence from England because it was deeply intertwined with the notion of liberty and self-government. John Locke's theory, which was influential among the colonial intellectuals, posited that life, liberty, and property are God-given rights that the government must respect.
The Enlightenment thinkers such as Franklin and Jefferson believed these rights were inalienable and when the British monarchy failed to protect these natural rights, which encompassed religious freedom, political independence became a moral imperative to preserve these liberties.
Religious diversity in the colonies, represented by groups such as the Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics, fostered a uniquely American perspective that equated religious freedom with political sovereignty, thereby contributing to the revolutionary sentiment.
As the colonists felt increasingly unrepresented in the British Parliament and their rights as English citizens were disregarded, the leap from seeking religious rights to desiring complete independence was a path justified by their understanding of natural rights.