Final answer:
The colonists argued for their independence based on the principle of 'no taxation without representation' and a series of grievances against British tyranny that violated their rights as Englishmen.
Step-by-step explanation:
An argument the colonists used to justify their war for independence against Great Britain centered around the idea of self-governance and the protection of individual rights. One of the pivotal reasons was the notion of 'no taxation without representation', asserting that the colonists should not be taxed by a government unless they had representatives in it. Additionally, numerous grievances were detailed in the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, which highlighted perceived injustices, such as imposing taxes without consent, quartering of British troops in colonists' homes, and denying the colonists their English rights. These ideological foundations and complaints were crystallized into a formal argument that ultimately propelled the colonies to seek independence and establish a government that was based on the consent of the governed.