In the declaration of independence, what did Thomas Jefferson declare life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to be?
History · High School · Wed Jan 13 2021
Answered on
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson declared life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to be unalienable rights. The specific phrase from the document is:
"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."
Jefferson asserted that these rights are inherent, natural and cannot be surrendered or transferred. They form the basis for the argument justifying the American colonies' separation from British rule.