Isabella Carter
The phrase life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson. The phrase gives three examples of the unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. The phrase has inspired people around the world to fight for freedom and equality. While the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, the US Constitution explicitly protects life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has been recognised by the Supreme Court and is increasingly significant internationally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness | Three examples of unalienable rights which have been given to all humans by their Creator |
| The rights that governments are created to protect | |
| The right to life, liberty, and security of person | |
| The right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness are explicitly protected in the US Constitution | |
| The right to the pursuit of happiness is not stated in the Constitution but is recognized and protected by the Supreme Court |
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What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is often referred to as the "triple crown" of constitutional rights. These three rights are considered natural rights, possessed by all human beings by birth or by nature. The inclusion of "the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration is notable, as it differs from the more common trio of essential rights, which typically includes property or estate instead. Jefferson's use of this phrase may have been influenced by John Locke, who argued that political society existed to protect "life, liberty, and estate". However, scholars debate the extent of Locke's influence on Jefferson's thinking.
The right to the pursuit of happiness is not explicitly mentioned in the US Constitution, but it has been recognised by the US Supreme Court and is protected implicitly through various amendments and interpretations. For example, the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause has been interpreted to protect an individual's freedom to engage in activities that contribute to their happiness, such as learning, gaining knowledge, and practising their faith. The right to the pursuit of happiness has also been cited in landmark Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality, demonstrating its evolving importance in American legal history.
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" has had a significant impact on legal and political thought, not just in the US but internationally as well. Similar phrases can be found in the Canadian Charter of Rights, the Constitution of Japan, the Constitution of South Korea, and the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence. The recognition of these rights in various state and national constitutions underscores their importance in shaping just and equitable societies.
While the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, it continues to inspire people around the world to fight for freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. It serves as a reminder that governments are created to protect the inherent rights of their citizens, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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The US Constitution and the right to liberty
The US Constitution and its amendments protect the right to liberty. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments declare that governments cannot deprive any person of "life, liberty, or property" without due process of law. The right to liberty is also protected by the US Constitution's explicit protection of life and liberty in the Declaration of Independence, which states that all humans have unalienable rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is widely recognised as a fundamental principle of American democracy and government. The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted on July 4, 1776, outlines the principles on which the US government and identity are based. While the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, it is a powerful statement of these ideals.
The right to liberty, as outlined in the Constitution, guarantees freedom from restraint and the ability to engage in activities such as contracting, occupation, learning, and religious participation. The Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause has been interpreted to include these freedoms as part of the right to liberty. The Supreme Court has also recognised the right to the pursuit of happiness, even though it is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, who replaced "estate" or "property" with "the pursuit of happiness" in his draft of the Declaration of Independence. However, the specific origin of the phrase is debated, with some scholars attributing it to John Locke and others to Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The phrase is similar to other statements of rights, such as the Canadian Charter of Rights, which includes "life, liberty, and security of the person".
The right to liberty, as protected by the US Constitution, is a fundamental aspect of American democracy and has been the basis for Supreme Court decisions and state constitutions. It is one of the unalienable rights that all humans are endowed with, according to the Declaration of Independence, and it plays a crucial role in shaping the principles and details of the US government.
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The pursuit of happiness defined
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase outlines three examples of unalienable rights that the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, which governments are created to protect. The Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, but it is powerful and has been widely referenced as an inspiration for the basis of government.
The phrase "pursuit of happiness" is considered to be different from the simplistic understandings of happiness. It is not about momentary pleasurable sensations but instead about deep and extended qualities of life. It is about the "good life" or "true happiness". Empirical research in happiness has shown that more money does not make a significant difference in someone's happiness. Thus, the American Dream, if understood as being about the accumulation of wealth, may not be a sufficient definition of the "good life" or "true happiness".
The "pursuit of happiness" includes a broader range of liberties such as speech, assembly, entrepreneurial pursuits, association, owning property, and other creative ventures to fulfill one's duty to the Creator. It is about facilitating the achievement of others' happiness and not being exclusively self-obsessed with one's own. This idea of the "pursuit of happiness" is similar to a line in the Canadian Charter of Rights: "life, liberty, security of the person".
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" has been attributed to different influences on Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Some scholars suggest the phrase was drawn from John Locke, who argued that political society existed for the sake of protecting "property", which he defined as a person's life, liberty, and estate. Others attribute the phrase more strongly to Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
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The influence of John Locke
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. The Declaration specifically mentions three rights that human beings possess by birth or by nature: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
John Locke, a key figure of the Enlightenment, significantly influenced the American Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Locke's philosophy centered on natural rights: life, liberty, and property. In 1689, Locke argued in "Two Treatises of Government" that political society existed for the sake of protecting "property", which he defined as a person's "life, liberty, and estate". He wrote that the magistrate's power was limited to preserving a person's "civil interest", which he described as "life, liberty, health, and indolency of body; and the possession of outward things". In his "Essay Concerning Human Understanding", he declared that "the highest perfection of intellectual nature lies in a careful and constant pursuit of true and solid happiness".
Locke's concept of natural rights emphasized that everyone was born into a state of perfect freedom and equality. This notion underscored that no one was inherently superior or inferior. The framers of the American Constitution found these ideas compelling and incorporated them into the Constitution's structure and the Declaration of Independence.
Locke's endorsement of the right to revolt forms the basis of the American constitutional framework's resilience. It conveys that governance must remain just and protective of individual liberties, or else it forfeits its legitimacy and can be lawfully challenged or replaced by its citizens. Locke's defense of religious toleration also significantly influenced the framers of the American Constitution, particularly in the First Amendment. He believed that governments were formed through the consent of the governed, establishing the legitimacy of governance and binding the government to serve the people.
Locke advocated for the separation of powers as a mechanism to prevent tyranny. He believed that consolidating legislative, executive, and judiciary powers in a single entity was the primary pathway to oppression and despotism. This philosophy profoundly influenced the framers of the United States Constitution, who instituted a tripartite system of government with three co-equal branches, each holding powers that can counteract the others.
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The right to happiness in other countries' constitutions
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is not legally binding, but it is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson. The phrase gives three examples of the unalienable rights that the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their creator, and which governments are created to protect. While the right to happiness is not explicitly mentioned in the US Constitution, it has been written into various state constitutions and has been cited in some of the US Supreme Court's landmark decisions.
The "pursuit of happiness" has gained significant protections in international constitutional theory and has been referenced in the constitutions of several other countries. For example, the Canadian Charter of Rights includes the phrase "life, liberty, security of the person", and the older Canadian Bill of Rights added "enjoyment of property" to this list. The 1947 Constitution of Japan, the 1987 Constitution of South Korea, and President Ho Chi Minh's 1945 declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam also include similar phrases.
The "Buen Vivir" movement has influenced the constitutions of South American countries such as Bolivia and Ecuador. "Buen Vivir", which translates to "good living", emphasizes the attainment of well-being through harmony between people, communities, and nature. The Bolivian Constitution outlines the "search for a good life" as one of the ethical and moral principles of the state.
The Bulgarian Constitution of 1991 also includes the well-being and fundamental rights and freedoms of Bulgarian citizens as a national objective, at least in the context of foreign policy. Similarly, Article 10 of the South Korean Constitution provides that all citizens shall be assured of human worth and dignity and have the right to pursue happiness.
As of 2022, the terms "happiness" and "well-being" are part of the constitutional lexicon of more than 20 and 110 states, respectively. This increasing prominence of happiness and well-being in constitutional texts worldwide underscores the phenomenon of the "constitutionalization of happiness", which refers to the process of elevating happiness to a constitutional level, bearing legal and political implications.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution does not explicitly mention "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". However, it does protect life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has been recognised by the US Supreme Court.
The phrase comes from the United States Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by the Committee of Five, which consisted of Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.
The phrase refers to three examples of unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect.
The phrase has been widely referenced and seen as an inspiration for the basis of government, despite not being legally binding. It has also been recognised by the US Supreme Court as a right and has been protected in various state and national constitutions.
