Jonah Patel
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, and established the United States of America. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States. George Washington, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison are typically counted as Founding Fathers, but none of them signed the Declaration of Independence. George Mason, a prominent figure from Virginia, was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention but refused to sign the Constitution, believing that it gave too much power to a central government and that it was incomplete without a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty. Another Virginian, Patrick Henry, also refused to sign the Constitution, claiming he smelt a rat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding Fathers from Virginia who refused to sign the Constitution | George Mason, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Edmund Randolph |
| Reasons for refusal | Patrick Henry believed the convention "smelt a rat"; Mason and Randolph believed the document gave too much power to a central government and was incomplete without a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty |
| Other notes | Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and Thomas Jefferson declined to serve as representatives to the Constitutional Convention; James Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his leadership at the convention, though he did not sign the Declaration of Independence |
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What You'll Learn
- Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry declined to serve as representatives
- James McClurg left the convention early and didn't sign
- George Mason refused to sign, citing concerns over individual liberty
- Edmund Randolph, a delegate, refused to sign the final document
- Virginia's opposition to ratification was led by Mason and Patrick Henry
Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry declined to serve as representatives
The U.S. Constitution was drafted by 70 individuals appointed by the original states, except Rhode Island. Of these, 55 attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution.
Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry, both Founding Fathers from Virginia, declined to serve as representatives to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Lee and Henry were Anti-Federalists, a group that contended that the Constitution failed to protect individual liberties from the federal government. Patrick Henry, for instance, opposed a central governing authority, and did all in his power to defeat the Constitution.
In addition to Lee and Henry, other individuals who did not accept or could not attend the Constitutional Convention included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. James McClurg, who advocated for life tenure for the President and greater independence of the executive from the legislative branch, was asked to join Virginia's delegation after Lee and Henry declined. However, McClurg left the convention early and did not sign the Constitution either.
The Constitution faced approval by the legislatures in at least nine of the 13 states. Virginia, where opposition was led by Mason and Patrick Henry, was leaning against ratification because of the omission of a Bill of Rights. The Federalists promised that if the Constitution was adopted, amendments would be added to secure people's rights.
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James McClurg left the convention early and didn't sign
The US Constitution faced a significant challenge in requiring approval by the legislatures of at least nine of the 13 states. Notably, several key states, including Virginia, leaned against ratification due to the absence of a Bill of Rights. This opposition was led by Mason and Patrick Henry, who refused to participate in the convention.
In 1787, when Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry declined to serve as representatives to the Constitutional Convention, James McClurg was invited to join Virginia's delegation. McClurg advocated for life tenure for the President and argued for the federal government's ability to override state laws. Despite his active participation, McClurg left the convention in early August and did not sign the Constitution.
James McClurg's political career did not end with the convention. During George Washington's administration, he served on Virginia's executive council. McClurg's early departure from the convention and his refusal to sign the Constitution did not define his political legacy. Instead, he continued to contribute to the political landscape of Virginia and played a role in shaping the state's governance during the early years of the nation.
McClurg's decision to leave the convention and not sign the Constitution may have been influenced by his own beliefs or personal circumstances. It is important to consider the context of the time and the complexities of the issues being debated. McClurg's specific reasons for not signing the document are not known, but it is possible that he shared some of the concerns expressed by other delegates or had his own reservations about the contents of the Constitution.
The refusal to sign the Constitution by some Founding Fathers, including McClurg, highlights the complexities and disagreements that existed during the formation of the nation. It is a reminder that the creation of the United States involved a range of perspectives and that the Founding Fathers themselves did not always agree on the best path forward. Despite these differences, the Founding Fathers worked towards establishing a nation based on shared values and principles, even if they disagreed on certain aspects.
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George Mason refused to sign, citing concerns over individual liberty
The U.S. Constitution was drafted by the Founding Fathers, a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, and established the United States of America. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.
George Mason, a prominent figure from Virginia, refused to sign the Constitution. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and the main author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Constitution of Virginia. Mason's refusal to sign the Constitution stemmed from his concerns over individual liberty. He believed that the document, as drafted, gave too much power to a central government and lacked a bill of rights to safeguard individual freedoms. Additionally, he perceived the Convention's reluctance to take a stronger stance against the institution of slavery, despite him being a slaveholder himself.
Mason's dissent had consequences; he lost the friendship of George Washington and others who supported the endorsement of the document. His refusal to sign also potentially cost him his rightful place in history, as he became known as the "Forgotten Founder."
It is important to note that Mason was not the only Founding Father from Virginia who declined to sign the Constitution. Patrick Henry, a prominent Anti-Federalist, refused to participate in the Convention, claiming he "smelt a rat." Edmund Randolph, another Virginian delegate, shared Mason's concerns about individual liberties and refused to sign the final document as well.
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Edmund Randolph, a delegate, refused to sign the final document
The US Constitution was drafted by 55 delegates, of whom only 39 actually signed the document. Edmund Randolph, a delegate from Virginia, was one of those who refused to sign. Randolph was born in 1753 in Williamsburg, Virginia, and studied law under his father, John Randolph. During the Revolutionary War, he served as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington and attended the convention at which Virginia's first state constitution was adopted in 1776. He was the youngest member of the convention at age 23.
Randolph's political career progressed quickly. He became the mayor of Williamsburg and Virginia's Attorney General. In 1779, he was elected to the Continental Congress, and in 1786, he became Governor of Virginia and a delegate to the Annapolis Convention. Despite his prominent role in politics, Randolph refused to sign the final Constitution. He was joined by fellow Virginian George Mason and Massachusetts representative Elbridge Gerry.
Randolph and Mason's refusal to sign was due to their shared Anti-Federalist beliefs. They believed that the Constitution, as drafted, failed to safeguard individual liberties from the federal government. Specifically, they felt that it gave too much power to a central governing authority and lacked a Bill of Rights to guarantee individual freedom. This view was influenced by Mason's authorship of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which was adopted before the national Declaration of Independence and outlined human rights in greater detail.
The opposition to the Constitution led by Randolph and Mason was significant, as Virginia was one of the key states that appeared to be leaning against ratification. To address these concerns, the Federalists promised that amendments would be added to secure people's rights if the Constitution was adopted. This ultimately led to the amendments proposed under the Bill of Rights, with Madison, a fellow Virginian and the "Father of the Constitution," as its principal author.
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Virginia's opposition to ratification was led by Mason and Patrick Henry
The U.S. Constitution required approval by the legislatures of at least nine of the 13 states. Despite unanimous votes in New Jersey and Georgia, several key states, including Virginia, appeared to be leaning against ratification. This opposition in Virginia was led by George Mason and Patrick Henry, who refused to participate in the convention, claiming he "smelt a rat".
Mason, a prominent figure in Virginia, was the main author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Constitution of Virginia. As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Mason refused to sign the Constitution, believing it gave too much power to a central government and lacked a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty. He also perceived the Convention's reluctance to deal more harshly with the institution of slavery. Mason's refusal to sign the new Constitution cost him the friendship of Washington and others, and his place in the annals of history.
Patrick Henry, along with Richard Henry Lee, also from Virginia, and Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, were leading Anti-Federalists. They contended that the document failed to safeguard individual liberties from the federal government. Henry, who derived his hatred of a central governing authority from his Scottish ancestry, did all in his power to defeat the Constitution, opposing Madison every step of the way.
Madison, the "Father of the Constitution", led the delegates who advocated for a strong central government. He supported its ratification in the Continental Congress, collaborating with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in a series of essays that appeared in newspapers and were published in book form as The Federalist (1788). Madison's longevity and his role as the “Father of the United States Constitution” and as the fourth President of the United States, led people to believe he had inside knowledge of the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence.
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Frequently asked questions
George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and James McClurg were the founding fathers from Virginia who refused to sign the Constitution.
George Mason refused to sign the Constitution because he believed that the document gave too much power to a central government and was incomplete without a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty.
Edmund Randolph was a delegate to the Annapolis Convention in 1786 and a prominent figure in Virginia politics. He was an Anti-Federalist and believed that the Constitution failed to safeguard individual liberties from the federal government.
