Urgent Read the passage from “What Does the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ Mean in the Declaration of Independence?” Because happiness was widely considered a natural state for humans in the Jeffersonian era, it was believed to be what God intended and therefore deserved protection. The word’s proximity to two other natural rights—liberty and life—demonstrates that Jefferson found happiness just as important. The legal and social frameworks provided by the Declaration and the Constitution are meant to create that protection. If a large house makes you happy, for example, then another person shouldn’t be able to set it on fire; there are laws against that. What’s more, an individual shouldn’t legally be kept from pursuing that large house. Which response most accurately explains how the author helps the reader understand the full meaning of the phrase “pursuit of happiness” in the passage? What Does the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ Mean? He provides historical context by explaining that happiness was regarded as one’s birthright and should be protected from others who may impinge upon it. He ranks the natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, showing which are most and least important. He describes the components of the Constitution that protect individuals’ rights to pursue their own concept of happiness. He uses an example of a large house to show what can be gained from the pursuit of happiness.