The American Revolution was justified

The American Revolution was fought primarily over representation. The American colonies were denied representation in a growing empire in which they were legitimate subjects. 1. Virtual Representation: This was the key argument between the colonies and Parliament. London maintained that the colonies were represented "virtually" along with all other subjects of the Empire even though the colonists had no vote and no members to seat in Parliament. So long as Parliament continued the policy of statutory neglect the colonies were free to determine most of their policies for themselves the issue was not very important, but as Parliament attempted to assert power over the colonies over the course of 12 years the situation snowballed. 2. Taxes: The infamous Stamp Act was also joined by the Townsend Revenue Acts. Both acts were boycotted by the colonists in a peaceful gesture asserting their rights. However, it should also be noted that the Sons of Liberty were also formed during this period. While these men were involved in illegal activities it should be noted that most colonists were never members of the Sons of Liberty and many did not support their illegal activities. 3. The Boston Tea Party and Intolerable Acts: The Sons of Liberty were responsible for the Boston Tea Party. An angry Parliament quickly passed the Intolerable Acts, which among other provisions punished the entire city of Boston, and by economic extension, the entire colony of Massachusetts for the actions of the Sons of Liberty. Also, the government of Massachusetts was brought under direct control from London. Almost all positions in the government were now appointed by the Royal Governor or the King. This in turn generated widespread fear in the other twelve colonies over arbitrary changes in their governments being enforced upon them by Parliament. 4. Navigation Acts: The Navigation Acts listed curtain items that could not be legally produced in the colonies, only in Great Britain. Beyond the clear injustice in regulating the potential professions of any given individual based on only geographic location these acts were enforced by Vice-Admiralty Courts which did not provide for a jury trial. The stage was set for violence in 1775. All of these measures had impacted the colonies in the space of 12 years. Going from almost total control of their own affairs the colonies were now under the growing authority of Parliament and the King. With the Massachusetts Government Act in effect the other colonies were unsure of their own futures. When the British Army advanced towards Concord to confiscate the arms of the local militia the die was cast. Blood was shed and the War had begun. Even after the fighting had begun the Second Continental Congress offered King George the Olive Branch Petition offering for negotiating and reconciliation. The King rejected American offers with the Proclamation of Rebellion, declaring the colonies to be in "open and avowed rebellion". The American Revolution was a reluctant revolution. Taking almost 12 years to come to blows with the British government and even after bloodshed offering for peace. The issue at the heart of the controversy was whether or not Parliament could exercise control over the colonies without representation from the colonies. After a series of failed policies Parliament resorted to force and the colonies responded. It was at this point the Revolution became justified. When a government must deploy it's army to enforce laws on a population which has no voice in that action is unjustified. That is what happened at Lexington and Concord. To deal with your argument on African Americans I would point out that Britain only abolished all slavery in the 1830's. There were many other corners of the Empire, specifically the Caribbean, were slavery was far more brutal than the colonies and would continue to be so for 50 years after the Declaration of Independence. As far as Native Americans were concerned they were all still sovereign nations, independent political units onto themselves. While they may have occupied territory claimed by Britian they were dealt with via treaty. They were not subjects of the Empire. Most of the sources I've come across have said that the loyalist population was somewhere between 15%-33%. Historian Robert Middlekauff says: "In no colony did loyalists outnumber revolutionaries. The largest numbers were found in the middle colonies: many tenant farmers of New York supported the king, for example, as did many of the Dutch in the colony and in New Jersey. The Germans in Pennsylvania tried to stay out of the Revolution, just as many Quakers did, and when that failed, clung to the familiar connection rather than embrace the new. Highland Scots in the Carolinas, a fair number of Anglican clergy and their parishioners in Connecticut and New York, a few Presbyterians in the southern colonies, and a large number of the Iroquois Indians stayed loyal to the king."