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'''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.

'''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.   Mason wrote both the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776 and the Virginia state constitution, but he is best known for his reluctance to sign the Constitution due to its lack of a bill of rights. His opposition played a large role in the addition of the Bill of Rights (the first ten constitutional amendments) in 1791.  He did not hold major office after 1787.

 

==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]].

[[Image:Mason-g.jpg|thumb|420px]]

[[Image:Mason-g.jpg|thumb|420px]]

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 1787 Mason was a very active particiapant at the [[Constitutional Convention]]. Mason was suspicious of centralized power, and he argued for limitations on such powers throughout the federal convention. Yet, he was also an effective nationalist and supported the Virginia Plan's third resolution, which called for a national government with "supreme" departments. He defended the popular election of the House and favored the indirect election of the Senate. Mason advocated age restrictions on government service, offering a motion that set the minimum age requirement for election to the House. He also helped broker the "Great Compromise," which broke a major barrier that had threatened to break up the Convention; his compromise converted the small states into enthusiastic supporters of national power. 

 

However Mason finally refused to sign the document and spoke out in 1788 against it because it lacked a [[Bill of Rights]]. To secure adoption in Virginia [[James Madison]] compromised, and the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791.  Mason was a close friend of [[George Washington]], but was an [[Antifederalist]] along with [[Patrick Henry]].  Mason favored very powerful state governments and did not want the national government to interfere.  

A state university in Virginia [[George Mason University]] is named for him.

[[George Mason University]], a state university in Virginia,  is named for him.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Broadwater, Jeff ''George Mason: Forgotten Founder.'' (2006)  

* Broadwater, Jeff ''George Mason: Forgotten Founder.'' (2006)  

* Miller, Helen Hill. ''George Mason, Constitutionalist.'' (2001).  

* 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]

* 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).   

* Rutland, Robert A. ''George Mason: Reluctant Statesman'' (1980).   

===Primary sources===

===Primary sources===

Rutland, Robert A., et al. eds. ''The papers of George Mason,'' (1970). 3 vols

* Rutland, Robert A., et al. eds. ''The papers of George Mason,'' (1970). 3 vols

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