| George Mason |
George Mason IV (December 11, 1725 – October 7, 1792) was an American
Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional
Convention. Along with James Madison, he is called the "Father of the Bill
of Rights." For these reasons he is considered one of the "Founding Fathers"
of the United States.
Like anti-federalist Patrick Henry, Mason wanted a weak central
government, divided into three parts, with little power, leaving the several
States with a preponderance of political power. Mason pressed for the
addition of explicit States rights and individual rights to the U.S.
Constitution as a balance to the increased federal powers, and did not sign
the document in part because it lacked such a statement. His efforts
eventually succeeded in convincing the Federalists to add the first ten
amendments of the Constitution. These amendments, collectively known as
the Bill of Rights, were based on the earlier Virginia Declaration of Rights,
which Mason had drafted in 1776.
Mason was appointed in 1786 to represent Virginia as a delegate to a Federal
Convention, to meet in Philadelphia for the purpose of revising the Articles
of Confederation. He served at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia from
May to September 1787 and contributed significantly to the formation of the
Constitution. "He refused to sign the Constitution, however, and returned to
his native state as an outspoken opponent in the ratification contest." One
objection to the proposed Constitution was that it lacked a "declaration of
rights". As a delegate to Virginia's ratification convention, he opposed
ratification without amendment. Among the amendments he desired was a
bill of rights. On December 15, 1791, the U.S. Bill of Rights, based primarily
on George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights, was ratified in response
to the agitation of Mason and others.
Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional
Convention. Along with James Madison, he is called the "Father of the Bill
of Rights." For these reasons he is considered one of the "Founding Fathers"
of the United States.
Like anti-federalist Patrick Henry, Mason wanted a weak central
government, divided into three parts, with little power, leaving the several
States with a preponderance of political power. Mason pressed for the
addition of explicit States rights and individual rights to the U.S.
Constitution as a balance to the increased federal powers, and did not sign
the document in part because it lacked such a statement. His efforts
eventually succeeded in convincing the Federalists to add the first ten
amendments of the Constitution. These amendments, collectively known as
the Bill of Rights, were based on the earlier Virginia Declaration of Rights,
which Mason had drafted in 1776.
Mason was appointed in 1786 to represent Virginia as a delegate to a Federal
Convention, to meet in Philadelphia for the purpose of revising the Articles
of Confederation. He served at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia from
May to September 1787 and contributed significantly to the formation of the
Constitution. "He refused to sign the Constitution, however, and returned to
his native state as an outspoken opponent in the ratification contest." One
objection to the proposed Constitution was that it lacked a "declaration of
rights". As a delegate to Virginia's ratification convention, he opposed
ratification without amendment. Among the amendments he desired was a
bill of rights. On December 15, 1791, the U.S. Bill of Rights, based primarily
on George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights, was ratified in response
to the agitation of Mason and others.