Final answer:
The colonists justified declaring independence from Britain due to infringements on natural rights, establishment of absolute tyranny, and the British government's refusal to address colonists' grievances effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Justifications for American Independence
When the American colonists declared independence from British rule, several key justifications were cited for this revolutionary action. First, the concept of natural rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness was a cornerstone in the Declaration of Independence. These rights, thought to be given by God and upheld by governments, were believed to be infringed upon by the British crown.
Secondly, the British government was accused of establishing absolute tyranny over the states, which contradicted the principles of the Magna Carta and British Bill of Rights asserting the rights to have a say in one's taxation and the right to a trial by jury.
Lastly, the repeated attempts by colonists to seek redress for their grievances were met with dismissal or further injury, evidencing a lack of mutual respect and consent of the governed, which was another fundamental tenet underpinning the Declaration of Independence.