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Although it was seen as a distinct phrase, many people never fully understood its meaning. Only by their changes did they each have a perspective of the writing as nothing more than the pursuit of wealth and status. Thomas might as well have left "property" in its place. Sadly to say, Jefferson's own "property" included hundreds of people whom he did not permit to pursue their own happiness

Jefferson's aim was then set that all humans have these key points:

"Moral. Happiness the aim of life.
Virtue the foundation of happiness.
Utility the test of virtue"

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15y ago
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16y ago

It has a better ring to it. He thought property was too specific and that it wouldn't be able to hold as much meaning (or possibly, not enough future relevance?) as something more general like 'pursuit of happiness'

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12y ago

The best explanation I have heard is that Jefferson was beginning to see corporations coming into the picture and with it the abuses of people and other rights in the name of property.

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Q: Why did Jefferson say pursuit of happiness instead of property?
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Continue Learning about American Government

Who write life liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

The man that wrote the inalienable rights of man(Declaration of Independence) was John Locke. He stated that man should have the right of Life, Liberty and Property. Thomas Jefferson, stated that men should have to work for their right to property. So he replaced property with the Pursuit of Happiness.


What were 3 unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the three unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence.


What did Jefferson include as among the natural rights of all men?

Thomas Jefferson wrote the United States Constitution in the 18th century. He wrote that all men had the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.


In the declaration of independence what does the pursuit of happiness mean?

"life, liberty and property". But the "change" to "pursuit of happiness" was NOT something Jefferson himself dreamed up. Rather the idea also went back to Locke's discussion of rights -- and the WORDING in the Declaration of Independence was based on the way this was all expressed a month before that document by George Mason.Part of the solution is to clarify what these terms MEANT to Locke and the founding fathers -- neither the mention of "property" nor of "happiness" means quite what WE tend to think. By "property," Locke meant MORE than land and goods that could be sold, given away, or even confiscated by the government under certain circumstances. Property also referred to ownership of one's self, which included A RIGHT TO PERSONAL WELL BEING. Jefferson, however, substituted the phrase, "pursuit of happiness," which Locke and others had used to describe FREEDOM OF OPPORTUNITY as well as the duty to help those in want.


What did Thomas Jefferson consider to be natural or unalienable rights?

Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness

Related questions

The rights that were mentioned in the Declaration of Independence were modeled on the rights written about by whom?

The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: These come from John Locke's theory of natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Property was changed to the pursuit of happiness by the author, Thomas Jefferson.The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: These come from John Locke's theory of natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Property was changed to the pursuit of happiness by the author, Thomas Jefferson.The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: These come from John Locke's theory of natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Property was changed to the pursuit of happiness by the author, Thomas Jefferson.The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: These come from John Locke's theory of natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Property was changed to the pursuit of happiness by the author, Thomas Jefferson.


What are the unalienable rights that were mentioned in the Declaration of independence?

The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These come from John Locke's natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Property was changed to the pursuit of happiness by the author, Thomas Jefferson.


What are unalienable rights that are mentioned in the declaration of independence?

The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These come from john Locke's natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Property was changed to the pursuit of happiness by the author, Thomas Jefferson.


Who write life liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

The man that wrote the inalienable rights of man(Declaration of Independence) was John Locke. He stated that man should have the right of Life, Liberty and Property. Thomas Jefferson, stated that men should have to work for their right to property. So he replaced property with the Pursuit of Happiness.


Who said men have the unalienable right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

It was Jefferson which derived from Madison's... " Life, liberty, and property."


What rights did Thomas Jefferson give to men?

D. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness


From whom did Jefferson borrow the concepts of Life liberty and the pursuits of happiness as found in the Declaration?

Thomas Jefferson got the concept of life, liberty, and the pursuit of property from John Locke. He then replace property with happiness, which was inspired by the writings of Dr. Samuel Johnson.


What are the 3 natural rights Jefferson wrote are most important to all men?

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."


Did John Locke or Thomas Jefferson say the pursuit of happiness?

Thomas Jefferson


In the phrase life liberty and pursuant of happiness what was the original wording?

It was originally said as: "Life, liberty, and property" by John Locke, who was a philosopher at the time. Jefferson liked this idea, and instead of directly copying it, he changed it to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Hope that helps :).


Jefferson's phrase the pursuit of happiness stated in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence was more specifically interpreted by the colonists to mean the right to?

property


Who is author of Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

Thomas Jefferson was the man who wrote these words on the Declaration of Independence. However, this was derived from John Locke's ideas of "life, liberty, and property". Property meant a man's estate.