Difference between revisions of "George Mason"
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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]]. | + | '''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. |
| + | ==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. | ||
| + | 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: | ||
| + | ::''That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.'' | ||
| − | + | Jefferson rewrote it: | |
| + | ::''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.'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[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]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[George Mason University]] is named for him. | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, George}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, George}} | ||
| − | + | ====notes==== | |
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category: Founding Fathers]] | [[Category: Founding Fathers]] | ||
| + | [[Category:United States History]] | ||
| + | [[Category:American Revolution]] | ||
Revision as of 03:18, December 18, 2008
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.
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. 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.[1] Mason wrote:
- That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Jefferson rewrote it:
- 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.
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.
George Mason University is named for him.