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| − | '''George Mason''' was one of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States of America]]. He was an influential member of the [[Continental Congress]], and a signer of the [[Declaration of Independence]]. He was a [[Virginia]] tobacco planter who grew wealthy using slave labor. | + | '''George Mason''' (1725-1792) was one of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States of America]]. He was an influential member of the [[Continental Congress]], and a signer of the [[Declaration of Independence]]. He was a [[Virginia]] tobacco planter who grew wealthy using slave labor. |
| | ==Virginia Declaration of Rights 1776== | | ==Virginia Declaration of Rights 1776== |
| − | Mason wrote the [[Virginia Declaration of Rights]] in 1776; [[Thomas Jefferson]] used it as inspiration for the [[Declaration of Independence. | + | Mason wrote the [[Virginia Declaration of Rights]] in 1776; [[Thomas Jefferson]] used it as inspiration for the [[Declaration of Independence]]. |
| | The opening philosophical section is closely based on Virginia's "Declaration of Rights," a notable summary of current revolutionary philosophy, and adopted by Virginia in June 1776.<ref> see [http://gunstonhall.org/documents/vdr.html "The Virginia Declaration of Rights," Final Draft, 12 June 1776]</ref> | | The opening philosophical section is closely based on Virginia's "Declaration of Rights," a notable summary of current revolutionary philosophy, and adopted by Virginia in June 1776.<ref> see [http://gunstonhall.org/documents/vdr.html "The Virginia Declaration of Rights," Final Draft, 12 June 1776]</ref> |
| | Mason wrote: | | Mason wrote: |
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| | In 1788 Mason demanded that the new Constitution include a [[Bill of Rights]]; to secure adoption in Virginia [[James Madison]] agreed, and the Bil of Rights was adopted in 1791. Mason was a close friend of [[George Washington]], but was an [[Antifederalist]] along with [[Patrick Henry]]. | | In 1788 Mason demanded that the new Constitution include a [[Bill of Rights]]; to secure adoption in Virginia [[James Madison]] agreed, and the Bil of Rights was adopted in 1791. Mason was a close friend of [[George Washington]], but was an [[Antifederalist]] along with [[Patrick Henry]]. |
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| − | [[George Mason University]] is named for him. | + | A state university in Virginia [[George Mason University]] is named for him. |
| | + | ==Further reading== |
| | + | * Broadwater, Jeff ''George Mason: Forgotten Founder.'' (2006) |
| | + | * Miller, Helen Hill. ''George Mason, Constitutionalist.'' (2001). |
| | + | * Rowland, Kate Mason. ''The Life Of George Mason, 1725-1792.'' (1892). old popular biography [http://books.google.com/books?id=F0F6TuWe_LwC&dq=dogue's+neck&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0 full text online] |
| | + | Rutland, Robert A. ''George Mason: Reluctant Statesman'' (1980). |
| | + | ===Primary sources=== |
| | + | Rutland, Robert A., et al. eds. ''The papers of George Mason,'' (1970). 3 vols |
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| | {{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, George}} | | {{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, George}} |