Questions: 2. A major argument for American independence found in the Declaration of Independence was that the British (1) stopped participating in the slave trade (2) refused to sell products to Americans (3) deprived Americans of their natural rights (4) censored American representatives in Parliament

The answer is (3) deprived Americans of their natural rights.

This option is incorrect. The Declaration of Independence does not argue for independence based on Britain's participation or non-participation in the slave trade. In fact, the issue of slavery was a contentious topic among the American colonies themselves, and the Declaration does not address it as a reason for independence.

This option is also incorrect. While there were economic grievances related to trade restrictions and taxes imposed by Britain, the Declaration of Independence focuses more on broader issues of governance and rights rather than specific trade practices.

This is the correct answer. The Declaration of Independence, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, emphasizes that the British government had violated the natural rights of the American colonists. It argues that all men are endowed with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that the British government had infringed upon these rights, justifying the colonies' decision to seek independence.

This option is incorrect. The American colonies did not have direct representation in the British Parliament, which was one of the grievances leading to the call for independence. The slogan "no taxation without representation" reflects this lack of representation, but the Declaration itself does not specifically mention censorship of representatives in Parliament.