He believed that humans were created equal with rights.
There were of course other factors. While early humans did hunt them a lot due to the profits which they received from it (A lot of food, bones they could use for homes, fur they could use for clothing, etc.), there were also other factors such as less food for them which made them less mobile through different geographical regions, etc. (and therefore more susceptible to being hunted) that had played a part in their extinction.
The colonists felt nothing but resentment about the Navigation Acts. The Navigation Acts limited their trade with nations other than England.
