Simone Lawson
The Continental Congress convened the Federal Convention of 1787, also known as the Constitutional Convention, to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which failed to empower the central government effectively. Out of the 70 delegates appointed by the 12 original states, 55 attended the convention, and 39 signed the Constitution. Virginia was represented by several delegates, including John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, James McClurg, Edmund Randolph, George Washington, and George Wythe. However, not all of the Virginia delegates signed the Constitution, as George Mason and Edmund Randolph chose not to.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of delegates from Virginia who signed the Constitution | 0 |
| Total number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Date the Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Location of the signing of the Constitution | Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), Philadelphia |
| Names of Virginia delegates to the Constitutional Convention | John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, James McClurg, Edmund Randolph, George Washington, George Wythe |
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What You'll Learn
George Mason of Virginia did not sign the Constitution
George Mason, a delegate from Virginia, did not sign the Constitution. He was a plantation owner whose residence was Gunston Hall, a Georgian brick home located near Mount Vernon, the former home of George Washington, who was a close friend. Mason was a prominent figure in his home state, and his counsel was highly valued by his peers. He was the principal author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution.
Mason refused to sign the Constitution because he disagreed with several of its provisions, including the lack of a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty. He believed the document, as drafted, gave too much power to a central government. He also wanted an immediate end to the slave trade and a supermajority requirement for navigation acts, fearing that restrictions on shipping might harm Virginia.
Mason's dissent also arose from his perception that the Convention was reluctant to address the institution of slavery more harshly. Notably, he himself held slaves, but he is said to have agreed to free them and was considered an abolitionist by some. Mason's writings, including the Virginia Declaration of Rights, have significantly influenced American political thought and events. He is recognised as a "Forgotten Founder", and his contributions to Virginia and the early United States are now acknowledged.
Mason continued to voice his concerns at the Virginia Ratification Convention, nearly derailing the Constitution's ratification in Virginia. Although the anti-federalists, including Mason, lost this battle, they achieved a greater victory. A deal was struck to adopt suggestions for writing protections of individual rights when the first Congress convened. James Madison, a fellow Virginian, later introduced the Bill of Rights during the First Congress in 1789, and these amendments were ratified in 1791, a year before Mason's death.
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George Washington of Virginia signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates from the original 13 colonies, except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates. The Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 14 to September 17, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government. The Articles' primary weakness was their failure to empower the central government to carry out essential functions, such as raising revenue, conducting diplomatic relations, and effectively managing western territories.
George Washington's involvement in the Constitutional Convention was significant. As a prominent figure in American history, Washington's participation added weight to the proceedings. Washington had a strong commitment to the cause of independence and national unity, and his presence at the Convention demonstrated the importance of the task at hand. Washington's military experience during the American Revolution also brought a unique perspective to the discussions, as he understood the need for a strong central government to ensure the young nation's security and prosperity.
Washington's role as the Convention's president was primarily to preside over the meetings and ensure orderly proceedings. He was chosen for this role due to his reputation for impartiality and his ability to command respect among the delegates. Washington took his role seriously and worked to maintain a neutral stance, refraining from actively participating in the debates. This decision was intentional, as he wanted to present himself as a unifying figure and believed that openly taking sides could potentially divide the delegates.
Washington's signature on the Constitution is a testament to his support for a strong central government and his belief in the importance of establishing a durable framework for the young nation. His presence and influence likely contributed to the Convention's success in creating a document that has endured and served as the foundation of American government for over two centuries.
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John Blair of Williamsburg, Virginia, signed the Constitution
John Blair, born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1732, was the son of John Blair, a colonial official, and Mary Munro (or Monro), a merchant and politician. John Blair Jr. was the fourth of at least twelve children and the eldest surviving son. He attended the College of William and Mary, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1754. The following year, he went to London to study law at the Middle Temple, and was called to the bar in 1757. Admitted to the Virginia bar the same year, he began practising law in Williamsburg. From 1766 to 1770, he represented the College of William and Mary in the House of Burgesses, and from 1770 to 1775, he served as the clerk of the colony's council.
John Blair was an active patriot and a Founding Father. He signed the Virginia Association of June 22, 1770, pledging to abandon the importation of British goods until the Townshend Duties were repealed. He also supported the Bostonians and called for a meeting of the colonies in a Continental Congress. In 1776, he took part in the Virginia constitutional convention, sitting on the committee that framed the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the plan for a new government. He also served on the Privy Council from 1776 to 1778. In 1778, he was elected to a judgeship in the General Court and soon became chief justice. He was also elected to Virginia's High Court of Chancery in 1780.
In 1787, John Blair was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, representing Virginia. Although he did not speak on the floor of the convention or serve on any committees, he signed the United States Constitution. He voted for unconditional ratification and served on the committee that recommended amendments to the Constitution. The following year, President George Washington appointed him as an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. He was one of the first associate justices and served on the Court from 1790 until his resignation in 1795 or 1796 due to his frequent illnesses and his wife's poor health.
John Blair died in Williamsburg on August 31, 1800, at the age of 68. He was buried in the churchyard of Bruton Parish Church.
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James Madison of Orange County, Virginia, signed the Constitution
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 14 to September 17, 1787. The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government of the United States. However, it was soon decided that a new constitution was needed to address the weaknesses of the Articles, which included a lack of power for the central government to carry out essential functions, conduct diplomatic relations, and manage western territories effectively.
James Madison, born in 1751 in Orange County, Virginia, was one of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention. Madison had previously advocated for McClurg's appointment as secretary of foreign affairs for the United States in 1782. At the convention, Madison was joined by other notable Virginians, including Edmund Randolph, who proposed the idea of creating an entirely new government rather than simply revising the Articles.
Madison and the other delegates engaged in intense debates and revisions over the course of the convention. The final document, known as the Constitution, expanded the power of the central government while also protecting the prerogatives of the states. On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates, including Madison, signed the Constitution, marking a significant step towards establishing a stronger and more effective national government for the United States.
It is worth noting that not all delegates agreed with the final document. Some, like George Mason of Virginia, refused to sign it, preferring the decentralized nature of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution faced further debates and criticism in the months that followed, but by June 1788, the requisite 9 states had ratified it, and the new government was set to begin in March 1789.
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Edmund Randolph of Virginia signed the Constitution
Edmund Randolph, born on August 10, 1753, was a delegate from Virginia who introduced the Virginia Plan—an outline for a new national government—to the Constitutional Convention. The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature, with each state represented in proportion to their population, and called for three chief executives from various parts of the country. Although he was an enslaver, Randolph argued against the importation of enslaved people and advocated for a strong central government.
Randolph, however, did not sign the final draft of the Constitution. He desired greater protections for individuals and disagreed with some revisions made to the original Virginia Plan. He believed the final document lacked sufficient checks and balances, fearing that the federal judiciary would threaten state courts and that the Senate was too powerful. He also objected to the broad powers granted to Congress and the lack of provisions for a second convention. Despite his refusal to sign, Randolph played a significant role in drafting the original constitution and served as a member of the \"Committee of Detail,\" tasked with converting the Virginia Plan's resolutions into a first draft.
Randolph's political career continued after the Constitutional Convention. He was Virginia's first Attorney General and Mayor of Williamsburg. In 1786, he became the Governor of Virginia, and in 1788, he chaired the Richmond Ratification Convention, where he played a pivotal role in securing Virginia's ratification of the Constitution. As a reward for his support, President Washington appointed him the first Attorney General of the United States in 1789. Randolph later served as Secretary of State until his resignation in 1795. He returned to Virginia to practice law and famously defended Aaron Burr at his 1807 trial for treason. Edmund Randolph died on September 12, 1813, at the age of sixty.
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Frequently asked questions
Out of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention, 39 signed the Constitution. Three delegates from Virginia—George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and a third delegate whose name I could not find—did not sign the Constitution.
I could not find a full list of the delegates from Virginia who signed the Constitution. However, I can tell you that George Washington of Virginia signed the Constitution.
Three delegates from Virginia—George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Richard Henry Lee—did not sign the Constitution.
Some delegates did not agree with the final product and preferred the decentralized nature of the Articles of Confederation.
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