“Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”

What did the Declaration of Independence do? The Declaration of Independence announced our independence from Great Britain, declared our independence from Great Britain, and said that the United States is free from Great Britain. It also stated fundamental principles about rights and government, including the famous words: “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.”

For the citizenship test, you should know what the Declaration did (announced independence from Britain) and what it says (people have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness).

The Essential Facts

For the citizenship test, remember:

What the Declaration did:

• Announced/declared independence from Great Britain
• Said the United States is free from Great Britain

What the Declaration says:

• All people are created equal
• People have unalienable rights (rights that cannot be taken away)
• These rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
• Government’s purpose is to secure these rights
• Government power comes from consent of the governed

The Declaration was adopted July 4, 1776, and written primarily by Thomas Jefferson.

What “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” Means

This phrase is one of the most famous in American history:

Life:
The right to live. Government cannot arbitrarily take your life. Laws must protect people’s lives. Everyone has a right to survive and be safe.

This means:

• Government cannot execute people without due process
• Laws should protect people from murder and violence
• Basic necessities for survival should be accessible
• People’s lives have inherent value

Liberty:
The right to freedom. People should be free to make choices about their lives without arbitrary government control.

This means:

• Freedom of speech, religion, assembly
• Freedom to choose where to live, work, and travel
• Freedom from slavery or arbitrary imprisonment
• Personal autonomy and self-determination

Pursuit of Happiness:
The right to seek happiness and fulfillment. Government should allow people to pursue their own vision of a good life.

This means:

• Freedom to choose your career
• Freedom to pursue education
• Freedom to form relationships and families
• Freedom to enjoy life and seek personal fulfillment

Note: It’s “pursuit” of happiness, not a guarantee of happiness. Government cannot make you happy, but it should not prevent you from pursuing happiness yourself.

Why Jefferson Wrote “Pursuit of Happiness”

Thomas Jefferson borrowed from philosopher John Locke, who wrote about “life, liberty, and property.” Jefferson changed “property” to “pursuit of happiness.” Why?

Broader Than Property:
Jefferson wanted to include more than just property ownership. Happiness encompasses property but also personal fulfillment, relationships, meaningful work, and other aspects of human flourishing.

Aspirational:
“Pursuit of happiness” is more inspiring than “property.” It suggests government should help people thrive, not just protect their possessions.

Moral Dimension:
Happiness involves living well and achieving one’s potential. This adds a moral dimension to rights—government should help people live good lives, not just secure material wealth.

Avoiding Slavery:
Some scholars suggest Jefferson avoided “property” because enslaved people were considered property. “Property” as a right might have been seen as protecting slavery. This is ironic since Jefferson himself enslaved people.

Whatever Jefferson’s exact reasoning, “pursuit of happiness” became an enduring American ideal—the idea that everyone should have the opportunity to build a fulfilling life.

“All Men Are Created Equal”

The Declaration states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

What This Meant in 1776:
Jefferson and the founders meant:

• No hereditary aristocracy (no kings, nobles, or inherited titles)
• No one is born naturally superior to others
• Everyone should be equal before the law
• Government should not create classes with different rights

What It Did NOT Mean in 1776:
The founders did not mean:

• Women were equal to men (women had no political rights)
• Enslaved people were equal (slavery continued)
• Native Americans were equal (excluded from political community)
• Economic equality (wealth differences were acceptable)

In practice, “all men” meant white male property owners primarily.

The Gap Between Ideal and Reality:
The Declaration proclaimed equality while America practiced inequality. This contradiction would drive American history for the next 250+ years.

Expanding “All Men”:
Over time, America gradually expanded who counts as equal:

• 1860s: Thirteenth Amendment ended slavery; Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed equal protection
• 1920: Nineteenth Amendment gave women voting rights
• 1960s: Civil Rights Movement achieved legal racial equality
• Ongoing: Struggles for equality continue

The Declaration’s principle of equality became a standard America was forced to live up to, even when failing initially.

“Unalienable Rights”

The Declaration says rights are “unalienable” (sometimes spelled “inalienable”):

What This Means:
Unalienable rights cannot be taken away or surrendered. They belong to you by virtue of being human. Government doesn’t grant them; it recognizes and protects them.

Natural Rights Theory:
This comes from Enlightenment philosophy, especially John Locke. Rights exist naturally, not because government creates them. Government’s job is protecting pre-existing rights.

Implications:

• Government cannot legitimately take away fundamental rights
• Even if you want to give up rights, they remain yours (you cannot sell yourself into slavery, for example)
• Rights transcend government—if government violates them, people can resist

Modern Understanding:
This concept influenced:

• The Bill of Rights (protecting specific rights from government violation)
• Human rights movements worldwide
• International human rights declarations
• American legal and political culture

The idea that rights are unalienable remains central to American political thought.

“Consent of the Governed”

The Declaration states that government power comes “from the consent of the governed”:

What This Means:
Government power is legitimate only if people agree to it. The people are sovereign, not the government. Government serves the people, not vice versa.

Revolutionary Concept:
In 1776, most governments ruled by:

• Hereditary right (kings inherited power)
• Divine right (God gave rulers power)
• Conquest (military power established rule)

The idea that people’s consent makes government legitimate was revolutionary.

Implications:

• People can withdraw consent from unjust government
• Elections express ongoing consent
• Unelected governments lack legitimacy
• Revolution against tyranny can be justified

This principle justified American independence—Britain governed without American consent, so Americans could rightfully rebel.

Modern Application:

• Democratic elections express consent
• Peaceful transfers of power show ongoing consent
• Constitutional amendments require popular consent
• Illegitimate governments can be challenged

Right of Revolution

The Declaration asserts that when government violates rights, people can “alter or abolish it”:

The Full Quote:
“Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”

What This Means:
People have a right to overthrow unjust government and create a new one protecting their rights.

Conditions:
The Declaration lists conditions justifying revolution:

• Government violates fundamental rights systematically
• Peaceful remedies have been attempted
• Tyranny is evident and persistent
• “A long train of abuses” demonstrates intent to establish “absolute Despotism”

Revolution is not justified by minor grievances but by systematic tyranny.

America’s Revolution:
The Declaration lists 27 grievances against King George III showing systematic rights violations. This justified American independence.

Dangerous Idea:
The right of revolution is dangerous—it can justify rebellion against any government. The founders knew this but believed the alternative (no right to resist tyranny) was worse.

Modern Implications:
This principle influenced:

• Democratic movements worldwide
• Revolutions against colonial powers
• Resistance to dictatorships
• American support for freedom movements

But it also raises questions: Who decides when revolution is justified? How do we distinguish legitimate resistance from mere rebellion?

How the Declaration Influenced America

The Declaration’s principles shaped American development:

Constitution:
The Constitution implements Declaration principles:

• Popular sovereignty (We the People)
• Limited government (protecting rights)
• Separation of powers (preventing tyranny)
• Federalism (balancing power)

Bill of Rights:
The first ten amendments protect specific rights the Declaration asserts:

• Speech, religion, assembly (liberty)
• Due process and fair trials (life)
• Property rights (pursuit of happiness)

Abolition Movement:
Abolitionists cited the Declaration’s equality principle against slavery. Frederick Douglass famously asked: If “all men are created equal,” how can slavery exist?

Women’s Rights:
The Seneca Falls Declaration (1848) copied the Declaration’s language: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.” Suffragists used Declaration principles to demand voting rights.

Civil Rights Movement:
Martin Luther King Jr. invoked the Declaration in his “I Have a Dream” speech, calling America to fulfill its promise of equality. The Civil Rights Movement forced America to extend equality to all races.

Ongoing Influence:
The Declaration’s principles still guide debates about:

• Rights and liberties
• Equality and justice
• Government legitimacy
• American identity and values

The Declaration’s Limits and Contradictions

Despite inspiring words, the Declaration had serious limitations:

Slavery:
Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal” while enslaving over 100 people. The Declaration condemned King George for the slave trade, but Congress removed this passage. The hypocrisy was glaring.

Women:
“All men” literally meant men. Women were excluded from political rights for another 144 years (until 1920). The Declaration’s equality did not include women.

Native Americans:
The Declaration called Native Americans “merciless Indian Savages.” It did not recognize their rights or equality. The pursuit of happiness for colonists required taking Native American land.

Property Requirements:
Even among white men, voting was limited to property owners. True universal suffrage took generations to achieve.

Economic Inequality:
The Declaration said nothing about economic equality. Vast wealth gaps were acceptable. Pursuit of happiness did not mean economic security.

These contradictions drove American history. The Declaration proclaimed ideals America did not practice. Achieving those ideals required generations of struggle.

Why the Declaration Still Matters

The Declaration remains relevant because:

Founding Principles:
It articulated principles fundamental to American identity: equality, rights, liberty, government by consent.

Aspirational Ideals:
Even when America fails to live up to Declaration ideals, those ideals remain standards to measure against. They inspire continued progress toward equality and justice.

Universal Application:
The Declaration’s principles apply universally, not just to Americans. “All men are created equal” means all humans everywhere. This universalism influenced human rights movements worldwide.

Moral Authority:
The Declaration provides moral authority for challenging injustice. Movements for rights and equality invoke Declaration principles when demanding change.

American Identity:
The Declaration defines what it means to be American. America is not defined by ethnicity or religion but by commitment to Declaration principles: equality, liberty, and rights.

Connections That Matter

Understanding the Declaration’s principles connects to the Constitution. The Constitution was designed to implement Declaration ideals: creating government that secures rights through consent of the governed.

Declaration principles relate to the Bill of Rights. The amendments protect specific rights the Declaration asserts: speech, religion, due process, and others.

The Declaration also connects to American political movements. Abolition, women’s suffrage, civil rights, and other movements invoked Declaration principles when demanding equality and justice.

For more on the Declaration, see our articles on Thomas Jefferson and July 4, 1776 in the uscis-questions category. To understand how Declaration principles influenced government, read about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. To learn about struggles to fulfill Declaration ideals, explore articles on the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

What should I answer for “What did the Declaration do?”
Announced/declared our independence from Great Britain, or said the United States is free from Great Britain. Any of these answers is correct.

What should I answer for “What does the Declaration say?”
People have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Or: all people are created equal. Both are correct.

Did the founders believe everyone was equal?
Not in practice. They believed white men were created equal before God and law, but excluded women, enslaved people, and Native Americans. The ideal was broader than the practice.

Why “pursuit of happiness” instead of just “happiness”?
Government cannot guarantee happiness—that’s up to individuals. But government can allow people to pursue happiness without arbitrary interference. It’s an opportunity, not a guarantee.

Can rights be taken away?
The Declaration says no—rights are “unalienable.” But in practice, governments sometimes violate rights. The Declaration’s point is that such violations are illegitimate, not impossible.

Does the right of revolution still exist?
In principle, yes—the Declaration’s logic remains. But practically, revolution in a democratic society is usually unnecessary because people can change government through elections. Revolution is justified only against tyranny.

How does “consent of the governed” work?
In democracy, through elections. People consent to government by participating in democratic processes. Peaceful transfers of power show ongoing consent.

What happens when Declaration ideals conflict?
Courts balance competing rights. For example, free speech (liberty) versus protection from harmful speech (life). The Declaration provides principles; the Constitution provides mechanisms for balancing them.

Has America lived up to Declaration ideals?
Not fully. America gradually expanded equality and rights but still struggles with inequalities. The Declaration provides ideals to aspire to, not guarantees of perfection.

What should I memorize for the citizenship test?
The Declaration announced independence from Britain. It says people have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Know these two points—what it did and what it says. This is sufficient for the test.