What is the significance of the 'pursuit of happiness' as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence?

In essence, no two documents hold greater importance in American law than the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The latter articulates key American values—freedom from oppressive governance, the liberty to determine one's own path, equal opportunities for a fulfilling life, and more. The former sets up the structure to safeguard, foster, and govern these ideals. Together, they represent a pinnacle of political craftsmanship, laying the legal groundwork for the emerging United States.

Since the Second Continental Congress gathered in Philadelphia in the spring of 1775, much has evolved. However, the Declaration of Independence, crafted during that time, continues to embody the quintessential American dream—freedom from oppression, the liberty to live as one desires, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Declaration specifically references happiness, a detail that seems intriguing upon closer examination. Why? At a time when British forces were threatening American colonists and militias were forming for war, the idea of happiness held such importance for Thomas Jefferson that he included it in the document's opening paragraph. Remarkably, his peers in Congress, who extensively revised Jefferson's draft, also retained this concept in the final version.

In the Declaration, Jefferson refers to the natural rights bestowed by the "Creator"—"Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"—as "self-evident" [source: Cornell]. However, the exact origins of these words in Thomas Jefferson's writing remain unclear and far from obvious.

Origins of the "Pursuit of Happiness"

Thomas Jefferson was tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence in late June 1776, completing it in just a few days. While the final document is relatively concise, Jefferson's initial draft was considerably longer. The original version underwent extensive edits, revisions, and simplifications by the committee. One phrase that remained unchanged in both the draft and the final version was, "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

Why did this phrase endure through both versions? Jefferson was an avid reader, and his residence, Monticello, housed numerous works by contemporary and historical philosophers. Among his favorites was the English philosopher John Locke. Locke, in his "Two Treatises on Government," proposed that individuals are granted by God the right to a healthy life, freedom to acquire and retain property—"life, health, liberty, and property." Locke also argued that our destinies are divinely ordained, and no one else has the right to interfere with them [source: Stanford].

Locke's writings notably omit any mention of happiness, focusing instead on property as a natural right. Jefferson adapted Locke's ideas of life and liberty to the context of the newly forming United States in the Declaration of Independence. However, the inclusion of "happiness" remains a mystery, as Jefferson never clarified its origin. This addition is often credited directly to him, though he was not the first to use the phrase.

The phrase "pursuit of happiness" was also employed by Dr. Samuel Johnson, a British political commentator and contemporary of Jefferson. As a Tory, Johnson supported the British crown during the conflict with the American colonies. Ironically, he used the term in his 1770 essay, "The False Alarm," which criticized the colonial unrest that eventually led to the Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence.

Literary scholar Carol Hamilton suggests that Jefferson likely borrowed the phrase from Locke rather than Johnson, given Jefferson's probable disdain for Johnson's Tory views. In 1690, Locke wrote, "The necessity of pursuing happiness is the foundation of liberty" [source: Hamilton], and he explicitly used the phrase "pursuit of happiness" in his essay.

Regardless of whether Locke, Johnson, or Jefferson first coined the phrase, the interpretation of what happiness means and how it is pursued in America has been a topic of debate for centuries.

The Meaning of "Pursuit of Happiness"

Happiness is entirely subjective, varying greatly from person to person. What brings joy to one individual—like picking flowers on a sunny day—might leave another feeling unhappy. John Locke, however, argued that happiness is humanity's natural state. He wrote that humans are "driven by pleasure and repelled by pain" [source: McMahon].

The sources of pleasure differ widely among individuals. Studies indicate that wealth accumulation is a significant factor in American happiness. For example, a January 2007 Gallup poll revealed that 72 percent of individuals earning $75,000 or more annually reported being happy [source: WebMD]. While material wealth—money, property, and possessions—is one way Americans seek happiness, the same poll found that married individuals, regardless of income, reported higher happiness levels than single people.

New cars, spacious homes, robust investment portfolios, and strong family and social connections contribute to happiness in varying ways. According to Jefferson, it is up to each individual to decide what brings them joy [source: McMahon]. However, the act of pursuing happiness is a separate matter altogether.

During Jefferson's time, happiness was seen as a natural human state, divinely intended and thus worthy of protection. Its placement alongside life and liberty in the Declaration underscores its importance. The legal and societal structures established by the Declaration and the Constitution aim to safeguard this pursuit. For instance, if a large house brings you happiness, laws exist to prevent others from destroying it. Similarly, no one should be legally barred from striving to acquire such a home.

In drafting the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson deliberately refrained from defining happiness, allowing each individual to interpret the term for themselves. He likely understood that merely desiring happiness is insufficient; the journey toward it must remain unimpeded, provided it does not infringe upon another's pursuit of happiness.