Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson and the committee used 'pursuit of happiness' in the Declaration of Independence to promote a broader interpretation of individual rights and reflect Enlightenment ideals. This choice also avoided specific endorsement of property rights, which could conflict with the institution of slavery—a practice Jefferson saw as wrong yet still participated in. The phrase 'pursuit of happiness' aligns with Jefferson's belief in limited government interference in individual freedoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Motivational Factors Behind Jefferson's Use of 'Pursuit of Happiness'
Thomas Jefferson and his committee chose to use the phrase "pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence rather than John Locke's "property" as one of the unalienable rights. This choice reflected Jefferson's Enlightenment-influenced beliefs about the role of government. He felt that the government should have a limited role in interfering with the individual's pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. By not explicitly stating "property" as a right, the Declaration allowed for broader interpretation of individual rights, beyond the material aspect. This may have been particularly strategic given the varying interests of the colonies, as well as the stark contradiction of property rights coexisting with the institution of slavery, which Jefferson himself saw as a "hideous blot" on the nation.
Furthermore, the phrase "pursuit of happiness" carries anti-slavery overtones, aligning with philosophies of natural rights and the belief that all men are created equal. These phrases were instrumental in sowing the seeds of liberty and equality that would challenge the institution of slavery, despite it not being explicitly addressed in the Declaration. Jefferson's mindset that citizens should be free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness with minimal government interference also influenced his opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts and his secret drafting of the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.
Overall, Jefferson's decision was influenced by the political climate of the time, Enlightenment philosophy, and his personal contradictions as a slave-owning aristocrat who simultaneously desired a future where slavery was abolished.