Final answer:
Colonists sought to safeguard their rights, including those related to 'life, liberty, and property,' and desired fair treatment as British citizens, striving for the same civil liberties as those residing in Britain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonists wanted to preserve their rights and receive fair treatment as British citizens. This sentiment was deeply rooted in the historical experiences of the colonists with the British Empire. The 1689 Bill of Rights and Act of Religious Toleration emphasized that every colonist was entitled to protection under the law, affirming their right to 'life, liberty, and property.' These rights were issues that the colonists had never agreed to relinquish without their consent. Furthermore, the colonists demanded that the new government of the United States guarantee the rights of life, liberty, and property. Their grievances against the British government included the intrusion upon civil rights, such as the imposition of taxes without representation and unfair trials. As the colonists believed they were entitled to the same civil rights as other Englishmen, their desire was not for independence but to be acknowledged and treated with the same rights due to their status as freeborn British subjects.