Jonah Patel
George Mason was a prominent figure in Virginia politics, advocating for the rights of colonists and playing a key role in the formation of the state's constitution. He was a primary author of the Virginia Constitution, which served as an important model for other state constitutions and the official U.S. Constitution. Mason's ideas, such as his emphasis on democratic ideals and the protection of individual rights, were influential in shaping the American system of government. He attended the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he participated in debates and contributed to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. However, Mason ultimately refused to sign the document due to his objection to the lack of a Bill of Rights, among other disagreements. His stance on this issue and his political writings inspired the later addition of the Bill of Rights as amendments to the Constitution.
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What You'll Learn
George Mason's attendance at the 1787 Constitutional Convention
George Mason was a prominent figure in his home state of Virginia and a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, his only lengthy trip outside his home state. Mason was the last Virginia delegate to arrive at the convention, on May 17, three days after the scheduled opening, due to flooding. The convention formally opened on May 25.
Mason was impressed by the quality of the delegates and expected sound thinking from them, something he did not think he had often encountered in his political career. He wrote to his son, George, that the "hopes of all the Union centre in this Convention". Mason was close to 60 years old at the time of the convention, and his reputation as a strong and able politician preceded him.
Mason was appointed to a grand committee formed on July 2, 1787, to resolve a deadlock in the convention. The committee included one member from each state, and Mason and Franklin were the most prominent members. The committee proposed what became known as the Great Compromise: a House of Representatives based on population, in which money bills must originate, and a Senate with equal representation for each state. The clause requiring money bills to start in the House most likely came from Mason or was influenced by him.
Mason was one of three delegates who refused to sign the final version of the Constitution, citing the lack of a bill of rights as one of his most prominent objections. He wrote down his reasons for not signing, and these notes became known as George Mason's "Objections to the Constitution". He also stated that he would sooner chop off his right hand than put it to the Constitution as it now stands.
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His refusal to sign the Constitution
George Mason was a prominent figure in his home state of Virginia and a vocal supporter of democratic ideals. He entered Virginia politics in the 1760s, advocating for the rights of colonists and played a key role in drafting the Fairfax Resolves, which protested loyalty to the British Crown while denying Parliament's right to legislate for colonies settled at private expense.
In 1776, Mason was the primary author of the Virginia Constitution, which served as an important model for other state constitutions and the official U.S. Constitution. This document established a system with multiple branches and levels of government, with power stemming from the people. Mason also authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which was adopted three weeks before the national Declaration of Independence, and the Virginia Bill of Rights.
In 1787, Mason attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where representatives from different states aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation. Despite his initial hopes for a strong outcome from the convention, Mason ultimately refused to sign the final Constitution. He objected to several provisions, most notably the lack of a Bill of Rights to protect U.S. citizens. He believed that without a Bill of Rights, the Constitution did not adequately safeguard individual liberties.
During the final days of the convention, Mason transcribed and circulated his "Objections to the Constitution," detailing his reasons for not signing. This stance cost him historical recognition, and he is sometimes referred to as the "Forgotten Founder." However, his efforts to protect individual rights eventually led to the passage of the federal Bill of Rights in 1791, providing the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
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His authorship of the Fairfax Resolves
George Mason was a prominent figure in his home state of Virginia and a close friend and neighbour of George Washington. Mason was a plantation owner and entered Virginia politics in the 1760s, advocating for the rights of colonists. He was the author of several founding documents that were influential in establishing the state of Virginia, including the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Virginia Constitution, and the Fairfax Resolves.
The Fairfax Resolves were a set of 24 resolutions adopted by a committee in Fairfax County, Virginia, on July 18, 1774, in the early stages of the American Revolution. The Resolves were authored primarily by George Mason, with some sources suggesting that they were co-authored by Mason and Washington, or drafted by a committee that included both men. The Resolves included many revolutionary statements, such as the rejection of the claim that the British Parliament had supreme authority over the colonies. Mason also presented other influential ideas, such as the consent of the governed, meaning that people must agree to their government and its laws for that government to have authority.
The Fairfax Resolves advanced the ideas subsequently found in important American documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The Resolves also laid the groundwork for the Continental Association of 1774, the most far-reaching system of boycotts during the American Revolution. The Fairfax Resolves thus played an important, but often forgotten, role in America's road to independence.
In addition to his work on the Fairfax Resolves, George Mason also made significant contributions to the creation of the U.S. Constitution. In 1787, Mason attended the Constitutional Convention, a gathering of representatives from different states charged with revising the Articles of Confederation, the first Constitution of the United States. However, Mason ultimately chose not to sign the Constitution because he objected to several provisions, including the lack of a Bill of Rights. During the final days of the Convention, Mason wrote down his reasons for not signing the document, and these notes became known as George Mason's "Objections to the Constitution".
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His advocacy for democratic ideals
George Mason was a passionate advocate for democratic ideals, which he expressed through his political writings and involvement in the American Revolution. He was a leader among the new legislatures formed by several colonies in 1776 to take control from Great Britain, authoring the Virginia Constitution, which served as a model for other state constitutions and the official U.S. Constitution. Mason's idea of a multi-branch and multi-level system of government with defined powers for each branch reflected his belief in democratic principles.
Mason's emphasis on democratic ideals is evident in his work on the Fairfax Resolves, which he largely drafted alongside George Washington. These resolves included revolutionary statements such as the rejection of British parliament's supreme authority over the colonies and the concept of "'consent of the governed,' which asserted that a government's authority is derived from the people's agreement to its laws. Mason's skills as a political thinker shone through in his authorship of these resolves, which influenced important American documents like the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
In 1787, Mason attended the Constitutional Convention, a gathering of representatives from different states tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation. Despite his initial hopes for a positive outcome, Mason ultimately refused to sign the Constitution because it lacked a Bill of Rights. He documented his objections, which became known as "George Mason's Objections to the Constitution." This act demonstrated his commitment to democratic principles and the protection of individual rights.
Mason's advocacy for democratic ideals extended beyond his political writings. He believed that the militia system under British rule should be more democratic, proposing that officers should be elected annually by the members of the militia rather than being appointed based on rank and length of service. Additionally, he advocated for the end of slavery in the colonies and the United States, despite being a slave owner himself.
George Mason's contributions to democratic ideals were significant, and he is often regarded as one of America's "'Forgotten Founders,'" having originated many of the core concepts and language later incorporated into foundational documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. His passion for individual freedom and rights left an indelible mark on the nation's history.
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His contributions to the Virginia Constitution
George Mason was a Founding Father, an American planter, and a politician. He was also a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, where he was one of three delegates who refused to sign the Constitution. His writings, including the Fairfax Resolves of 1774, the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776, and his Objections to this Constitution of Government (1787), have significantly influenced American political thought and events.
Mason's contributions to the Virginia Constitution were extensive. He was the primary author of the Virginia Constitution, which was written in 1776 when many American colonists were unhappy with the tyrannical actions of the British government. In the Virginia Constitution, Mason called the British style of government unsatisfactory and described a new governmental structure with multiple branches and levels. He also explained the powers of these different parts of government. The Virginia Constitution was an important model for many other state constitutions, as well as the official U.S. Constitution.
One of Mason's most significant contributions to the Virginia Constitution was his emphasis on democratic ideals and the protection of individual rights. He believed that militia officers should be elected annually by members of the militia, rather than being selected based on rank and length of service under British rule. This reflected his support for the democratic process. Mason's ideas on consent of the governed, meaning that people must agree to their government and its laws for that government to have authority, were also influential.
Mason's work on the Fairfax Resolves, which he largely drafted, advanced ideas later found in important American documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The Fairfax Resolves included revolutionary statements such as the rejection of the claim that the British Parliament had supreme authority over the colonies.
Mason's efforts to protect individual rights were also evident in his work on the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which he principally authored. This document served as a basis for the United States Bill of Rights, and he has been deemed a father of the Bill of Rights by some. The Virginia Declaration of Rights was adopted three weeks before the national Declaration of Independence, and it charted the rights of human beings more fully than Jefferson did in the national Declaration.
In addition to his work on the Virginia Constitution, Mason also contributed to the federal Constitution. He was named one of Virginia's delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, and many clauses in the Constitution were influenced by his input. However, he ultimately did not sign the final version due to several objections, including the lack of a bill of rights, his desire for an immediate end to the slave trade, and his preference for a supermajority requirement for navigation acts.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, George Mason believed that the US Constitution should include a Bill of Rights. He refused to sign the 1787 Constitution because of this.
Yes, George Mason believed that the US Constitution should include a declaration of rights. He felt that the "hopes of all the Union centre in this Convention". However, he was ultimately disappointed with the final document.
Yes, despite being an enslaver himself, George Mason believed that the US Constitution should end the slave trade.
No, George Mason believed that the US Constitution should not be modelled on the British style of government. He described the British style of government as unsatisfactory and proposed a new governmental structure with multiple branches and levels.
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