Final answer:
The colonists were justified in breaking away from English rule as stated in the Declaration of Independence. The document outlined the violations of their rights by the British government and the colonists believed they had the right to determine their own government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonists were justified in breaking away from English rule as stated in the Declaration of Independence. The document outlined the violations of their rights by the British government, including establishing an absolute tyranny and depriving the colonists of their natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Enlightenment ideas of sovereignty and natural rights, such as those promoted by John Locke, provided a moral justification for the revolution. The colonists believed that they had the right to determine their own government and be heard in addressing their concerns, which the British government failed to provide.