Why colonists wanted independence?

One of the main reasons is taxes. Britain had just fought the French and Indian War, and because of it was in debt. England decided that since it was fought on American soil, then it was fair to make the colonists pay for it. Except, the colonists felt like they didn't have a say in the British Parliament, so they began to rebel. They felt like England was being unfair taxing them for help (in the French and Indian War) that they never even asked for.

Mainly, the Americans wanted England to take away unfair taxes, repeal the unfair acts (Intolerable Acts, Stamp Act, Sugar Act etc.)and to be represented in the British Parliament, but since Great Britain refused to do so, they declared independence.
They didn't want to be ruled by a country across the ocean and they were being taxed unfairly
they wanted freedom