The inalienable right to "the pursuit of happiness" is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, but what exactly does that phrase mean? While Americans today may associate it with the right to own land, opulence or some other act of acquisition, many prominent founders understood it to mean something quite different. In this episode National Constitution Center President & CEO Jeffrey Rosen returns to the show to give us the full story and discuss his new book The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out Jeffrey's other appearances on our show in episodes 211 and 350.

Highlighted Resources from the National Constitution Center

–The Interactive Constitution (also available as an app in the apple and android app stores)

–We The People with Jeffrey Rosen podcast (available anywhere you get The Road to Now)

–Educational Video Series

If you're in Philadelphia, you can visit the National Constitution Center, which is located just steps from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Click here to plan your visit!

Thie conversation originally aired on February 5, 2024 as episode 295. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.