Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness: Declaration Rights

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? You can answer life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness. Any two of these three rights are correct answers. The Declaration states that all people have these unalienable rights that government should protect, not grant.

These rights are called natural rights or unalienable rights. They exist before government and independent of it. People have these rights simply because they are human. Government cannot legitimately take them away, and people cannot surrender them even if they want to. This philosophy shaped how Americans think about liberty and the proper role of government.

The Essential Facts

For the citizenship test, name two of these three rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence lists all three as examples of unalienable rights endowed by the Creator.

The full passage reads:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

This sentence became one of the most famous in American history.

Thomas Jefferson wrote these words. He drew on Enlightenment philosophy, particularly the ideas of John Locke. Locke wrote about natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Jefferson changed property to pursuit of happiness, creating a phrase that expressed a broader vision of human flourishing.

Why These Rights Matter

The founders believed rights came from nature or God, not from government. This was radical. In most countries at the time, rights were privileges granted by kings and could be taken back. By asserting that rights existed independently, the Declaration challenged the foundation of monarchy.

If people have natural rights, then government’s main job is protecting those rights. A government that violates rights loses its legitimacy. The Declaration used this logic to justify independence from Britain. King George III had repeatedly violated colonial rights, so Americans could dissolve their political ties and create a new government designed to secure those rights.

The right to life means government should protect people from being killed arbitrarily. Laws against murder reflect this right, as do limits on when government itself may take life through punishment or war. Life is the foundation for all other rights.

Liberty means freedom to make choices about how to live without excessive government interference. People can choose where to live, what to believe, how to worship, and what to say. Liberty is not unlimited. Your freedom ends where it harms others. Still, the starting assumption is freedom, not control.

Pursuit of happiness goes beyond property, though it includes it. It means the freedom to seek fulfillment and well-being in your own way, whether through work, family, creativity, learning, or faith. Government should not impose one vision of the good life but protect each person’s ability to pursue their own.

Historical Moment

In June 1776, Jefferson worked in rented rooms in Philadelphia drafting the Declaration. He had studied philosophy, law, and political theory and owned one of the finest private libraries in America. He drew on all of this learning to explain why independence was justified.

Jefferson’s early draft listed life, liberty, and property, following Locke. During revision, property became pursuit of happiness. We do not know exactly why. It may have felt more comprehensive. It may have avoided highlighting property rights while slavery existed. Or the phrase may simply have captured the idea better.

When Congress debated the document, they cut nearly a quarter of Jefferson’s draft. They left this passage about unalienable rights almost unchanged. Even delegates who altered other sections recognized its power.

John Adams later called this statement of equality and rights “a memorable epoch in the history of mankind.” He understood that once these ideas were written, they would echo far beyond American independence.

How You See It Today

Courts often reference the Declaration’s principles when interpreting constitutional rights. While the Declaration itself is not law, its philosophy shapes how the Constitution is understood.

The claim that all people are created equal became a benchmark for American progress. Abraham Lincoln invoked it against slavery. The Seneca Falls Convention used it to demand women’s rights. Martin Luther King Jr. quoted it in his “I Have a Dream” speech. Reform movements repeatedly return to this promise.

Modern debates still revolve around these rights. Questions about abortion involve the right to life. Free speech disputes invoke liberty. Economic and social policy debates raise questions about pursuit of happiness. The ideas remain alive.

The Deeper Story

Locke argued that people possess rights before government and form governments to protect them. When government fails, people may replace it. Jefferson adopted this framework but refined it.

Replacing property with pursuit of happiness avoided some contradictions of the era and captured a wider understanding of human goals. The phrase also had precedents, including George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights, which spoke of pursuing happiness and safety.

Calling these rights unalienable was essential. It meant they could not be sold, surrendered, or taken away. Even if someone wished to give up liberty, the philosophy said such a surrender was illegitimate.

In practice, these ideas were applied narrowly in 1776. Enslaved people, women, and Native Americans were excluded. The ideals were universal, but their application was not. Closing that gap would take generations.

These rights connect directly to the Constitution. Limited government, separation of powers, and checks and balances all reflect the goal of protecting liberty.

The Fifth Amendment says no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment applies this protection to the states. These provisions give legal force to ideas first announced in the Declaration.

Understanding natural rights explains why Americans talk about rights as inherent, not granted. That mindset traces directly back to the Declaration of Independence.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

What are unalienable rights?

Rights that cannot be surrendered or taken away. They exist because you are human. Government’s role is to protect them, not create them.

Why did Jefferson change property to pursuit of happiness?

No one knows for certain. He may have wanted a broader concept, avoided highlighting slavery, or preferred the wording. The result was more expansive than property alone.

Did the founders believe everyone had these rights?

In theory, yes. In practice, many people were excluded. The contradiction between principle and reality shaped later reform movements.

Are these rights absolute?

No. Rights have limits when they conflict with others’ rights or essential public needs. Restrictions require strong justification.

What does pursuit of happiness mean?

The freedom to seek fulfillment in your own way, as long as you respect others’ rights. Government should not define happiness for you.

Is the right to life the same as pro-life politics?

Not exactly. The concept protects against arbitrary killing, but its application to modern issues is debated.

Can government ever limit these rights?

Yes, but limits must follow due process and respect the core of the right. The presumption favors liberty.

How do these rights relate to the Constitution?

The Constitution’s structure and amendments are designed to protect them, especially through due process and limited power.

Why does the Declaration say Creator?

To emphasize that rights come from nature or God, not from government. That makes them more secure.

What should I memorize for the citizenship test?

Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Name any two.