Changes

==Later years==

==Later years==

As a State legislator (1780-84) Lee joined the conservative faction, which represented the interests of the large planters. A Member of Congress again in the period 1784-89, he served in 1784-85 as its President. In 1787, though elected to the Constitutional Convention, he refused to attend and led congressional opposition to the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]], especially because of the absence of a bill of rights. Although he was well aware of the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation, he and others feared a stronger Central Government. Lee's "Letters of the Federal Farmer to the Republican," the collective title for two pamphlets outlining his objections to the Constitution, epitomized antifederalist sentiment. [http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar01.htm][http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar02.htm][http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar03.htm][http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar04.htm][http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar05.htm]

As a State legislator (1780–84) Lee joined the conservative faction, which represented the interests of the large planters. A Member of Congress again in the period 1784-89, he served in 1784-85 as its President. In 1787, though elected to the Constitutional Convention, he refused to attend and led congressional opposition to the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]], especially because of the absence of a bill of rights. Although he was well aware of the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation, he and others feared a stronger Central Government. Lee's "Letters of the Federal Farmer to the Republican," the collective title for two pamphlets outlining his objections to the Constitution, epitomized antifederalist sentiment. [http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar01.htm][http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar02.htm][http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar03.htm][http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar04.htm][http://www.constitution.org/afp/fedfar05.htm]

In 1789 Lee entered the U.S. Senate, but because of failing health resigned in 1792, the year after the Bill of Rights was incorporated into the Constitution. He died in 1794, aged 62, at Chantilly. His grave is in the Lee family cemetery near Hague, Virginia.

In 1789 Lee entered the U.S. Senate, but because of failing health resigned in 1792, the year after the Bill of Rights was incorporated into the Constitution. He died in 1794, aged 62, at Chantilly. His grave is in the Lee family cemetery near Hague, Virginia.

{{Copyright Details (US Government)}}

{{Copyright Details (US Government)}}

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/contcong_06-07-76.asp Independence Resolution, June 7, 1776]

*[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/contcong_06-07-76.asp Independence Resolution, June 7, 1776]

*[http://www.leearchive.info/shelf/virginia/index.html Biography by Mary Elizabeth Virginia, from the Lee Family Digital Archive]

*[http://www.leearchive.info/shelf/virginia/index.html Biography by Mary Elizabeth Virginia, from the Lee Family Digital Archive]

*[http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/declaration/bio26.htm Source nps.gov/history]

*[http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/declaration/bio26.htm Source nps.gov/history]

{{Template:Declaration of Independence}}

{{Declaration of Independence}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Richard Henry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Richard Henry}}

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]