by Jason Herron

When Thomas Jefferson wrote, “they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” the definition of those words mattered. All 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence had to understand exactly what the document claimed, and agree with it, before they would sign their Lives, Fortunes, and sacred Honor to defend its cause.

To help with this section, I’d like to bring Noah Webster to the forefront. Noah was a Founding Father who, at age sixteen began college at Yale. While there, he was called away to fight in the American Revolution twice. Following the war, he studied some twenty different languages so he could trace words back to their original roots. In 1828, Noah compiled his decades of research into the first American Dictionary of the English Language.

Webster defined the words that that his generation used, but they are not all described the same way now. That fact alone makes his dictionary a must-have reference guide when considering the writings of our Founders.

For instance, Webster has the word Endowment defined as, “That which is given or bestowed on the person or mind by the creator; gift of nature; any quality or faculty bestowed by the creator. Natural activity of limbs is an endowment of the body; natural vigor of intellect is an endowment of the mind. (…) 

However, if you look up Endowment in the new Merriam Webster dictionary, you won’t find our Creator in the definition, it simply says “natural capacity, power, or ability.” So, when Jefferson penned the words, endowed by their Creator, Noah’s definition accurately describes Jefferson’s intent, not so much Merriam’s watered-down version. 

Now, how about the word Unalienable? Well, Webster defines alienable as “That may be sold, or transferred to another; as, land is alienable according to the laws of the State.” That definition was familiar to Jefferson, as he was an experienced lawyer who specialized primarily in land disputes. 

Webster defines unalienable as “That cannot be alienated; that may not be transferred; as unalienable rights.” Therefore, unlike land, which is transferable, unalienable rights are given to you by your Creator, they are not transferable to anyone or any government, that’s the definition.

The Declaration then list, among others, three specific rights given by our Creator that are nontransferable: Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. So, what proof do we have that those rights are indeed unalienable?

Well, Sir William Blackstone coined the phrase “the Laws of Nature and of Natures God” which Jefferson claimed entitled the American colonists to separate from Great Britain. Your unalienable right to Life is a Law of Nature that is listed first as it is necessary to be alive before exercising any other right. 

The desire to sustain one’s own life can be easily understood by reason and observation of the natural world. Think of the most harmless person you know; they will defend their life. A tiny mouse will defend itself and even try to hurt you if you threaten its life. It’s a law of nature, an unalienable right given by your Creator, to defend your life. (Try that argument at your next 2^nd amendment debate)

Moving on to the word Liberty. If asked, what does the word liberty mean to you, what would you say? Since Jefferson considered John Locke one of “the three greatest men that have ever lived” and Locke was writing about liberty since the 1670’s, it’s a safe bet Jefferson read the same pages that are available now. Locke’s most basic definition of liberty is, “to be free from restraint and violence from others.” Webster similarly states liberty is: “Freedom from restraint, (…) applicable to the body, or to the will or mind.”

You have the God given, unalienable right to be free from restraints and violence from others, it’s that simple. However, unlike Life and Liberty, the specific unalienable right Jefferson listed next, the pursuit of Happiness, is not so obvious as it should be. 

Happiness is synonymous with pleasure, unhappiness with pain. The desire for happiness is a natural law that is ingrained into us by our Creator and motivates EVERYTHING we do. However, some pleasures promise immediate gratification, but may produce long-term pain, keeping you from true happiness. 

Jefferson explained happiness to his daughter, Martha (Patsy) in a 1787 letter.

It is your future happiness which interests me, and nothing can contribute more to it (moral rectitude always excepted) than the contracting a habit of industry and activity. Of all the cankers of human happiness, none corrodes it with so silent, yet so baneful a tooth, as indolence. Body and mind both unemployed, our being becomes a burthen, and every object about us loathsome, even the dearest. (…) No laborious person was ever yet hysterical. Exercise and application produce order in our affairs, health of body, cheerfulness of mind, and these make us precious to our friends.”

According to Jefferson, to obtain true happiness you must start with proper morals. From there, find your purpose and stay diligent because if your mind and body are not at work, we become sick with ourselves. Working people don’t become hysterical, so keep learning and apply your knowledge. Those efforts will produce order in your life, which it is healthy for your body and mind, plus your friends will cherish those attributes. 

Your pursuit of Happiness comes down to this. Having the ability to make decisions, about the direction and purpose of your life, that will affect your long-term best interest, depends entirely on the individual. Your pursuit of Happiness allows you the freedom to choose your own direction in life, which is the foundation of individual liberty. (And true capitalism)

The Declaration of Independence is poetry for Liberty lovers.