<P> The United States Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and then edited by the Committee of Five, which consisted of Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston . It was then further edited and adopted by the Committee of the Whole of the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 . The second paragraph of the first article in the Declaration of Independence contains the phrase "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". </P> <P> Jefferson's "original Rough draught" is on exhibit in the Library of Congress . This version was used by Julian Boyd to create a transcript of Jefferson's draft, which reads: </P> <P> We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness;...</P> <P> The Committee of Five edited Jefferson's draft . Their version survived further edits by the whole Congress intact, and reads: </P>

Declaration of independence right to life liberty and pursuit of happiness