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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 Virginia House of Burgesses and the Virginia Convention. 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 refusal to sign the Constitution. The most important reason that Mason did not sign was the lack of a bill of rights. Mason wrote the first document ever written about the U.S. Constitution; he used a printed draft of the Constitution and wrote his Objections on the reverse. 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.

'''George Mason''' (1725-1792) was one of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States of America]]. He was an influential member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Virginia Convention. 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 refusal to sign the Constitution. The most important reason that Mason did not sign was the lack of a bill of rights. Mason wrote the first document ever written about the U.S. Constitution; he used a printed draft of the Constitution and wrote his Objections on the reverse. 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.

==Career==

==Career==

Mason inherited more than 15,000 acres of land in Virginia and Maryland including 5,500 at Gunston Hall. Like many Virginia planters, Mason was constantly increasing his holdings. By the time of his death in 1792, he owned more than 75,000 acres. He served as a town trustee of Alexandria, Virginia, and as a vestryman of the local Anglican church.  Mason was the second largest slave holder in Fairfax County after George Washington. Washington held approximately 300 slaves at Mount Vernon, Mason probably had about 100 slaves. Unlike his friend [[George Washington]], Mason never freed the slaves he owned instead willing them to his nine children.

Mason inherited more than 15,000 acres of land in Virginia and Maryland including 5,500 at Gunston Hall. Like many Virginia planters, Mason was constantly increasing his holdings. By the time of his death in 1792, he owned more than 75,000 acres. He served as a town trustee of Alexandria, Virginia, and as a vestryman of the local Anglican church.  Mason was the second largest slave holder in Fairfax County after George Washington. Washington held approximately 300 slaves at Mount Vernon, Mason probably had about 100 slaves. Unlike his friend [[George Washington]], Mason never freed the slaves he owned instead willing them to his nine children.

::''We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.''

::''We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.''

==Constitution==

==Constitution==

In 1787 Mason was a very active participant 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 direct 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 after others had moved that there be no age restrictions of House members. 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.   

In 1787 Mason was a very active participant 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 direct 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 after others had moved that there be no age restrictions of House members. 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.