To determine which phrase best completes the diagram regarding how the colonists formed their political views from historical documents, we can analyze the context.
Many of the political views of the colonists were deeply influenced by concepts such as individual rights, self-government, and separation of powers, stemming from documents like the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and others. However, since the phrase "self-government" aligns strongly with the foundational ideas of the American Revolution and resonates with the political aspirations of the colonists, it would be the most fitting to complete the diagram in this context.
Therefore, the phrase that completes the diagram is self-government.