Final answer:
The colonists showed they attempted to obtain peaceful redress of grievances to demonstrate their lawful nature, justify their eventual move towards independence, and establish their moral position against the British government's oppressive policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonists felt it was important to demonstrate that they had attempted to obtain a peaceful redress of grievances because they wanted to, first, maintain their image as lawful subjects of the British Crown who were simply demanding the rights due to them. Second, by showing a history of humble petitions that were met with repeated injury, they legitimized their cause in the eyes of international communities, who could then be convinced of the justness of the colonial struggle for independence. Finally, this narrative of peaceful efforts countered potential claims that they were unnecessarily rebellious or disloyal, which could reinforce their moral stance against the British government's oppressive actions. The record of grievances against British policies such as taxation without representation, the quartering of troops, and the right to self-government underscored the colonial perception of neglected rights, culminating in the necessity for independence.
These efforts for peaceful redress included the drafting of formal petitions and the organization of assemblies such as the First Continental Congress, which drafted a list of grievances and a statement of the rights of the colonists in response to the Intolerable Acts. The British response, or lack thereof, made taking up arms and direct confrontation a more widely accepted proposition, eventually leading to the Revolutionary War. This narrative serves as a cornerstone for the American values of liberty, self-governance, and the right to protest, as it was woven into foundational documents and rhetoric of the period and influenced the emerging identity of the United States.