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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:
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]].
[[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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