Final answer:
The colonies wanted self-reliance and freedom from outside control for various reasons including economic self-sufficiency, religious freedom, and the belief in representative government. The colonies had become accustomed to a tradition of self-rule which was threatened by the actions of Parliament and the King.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonies wanted self-reliance and freedom from outside control for several reasons:
- Most colonists in North America were largely self-sufficient, so they did not need to import consumer goods from Britain. They believed they could meet their own needs without relying on British imports.
- Colonial merchants learned to operate outside British law and evade trade restrictions, gaining economic independence.
- Some colonists sought religious freedom and the ability to worship according to their faiths without persecution.
- Colonists believed in the principles of representative government and self-governance. They felt that their rights were protected under British political system and expected that the governors would listen to their demands.
- There was a desire to limit the power of government and the belief that people should govern themselves, which was deeply ingrained in American political thought.
- The Declaration of Independence relied on the legal principle of salutary neglect, recognizing the tradition of self-rule the colonies had enjoyed for over a century.