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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.  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.

'''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 for many reasons. The most important reason was the lack of a bill of rights. Mason wrote the very first document 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 tobacco lands and expanded his holdings to 5,000 acres at Gunston, and eventually more 75,000 acres elsewhere. He served as a town trustee of Alexandria, Virginia, and as a vestryman of the local Anglican church.  Mason was one of the largest slave owners in the U.S.; unlike his friend [[George Washington]], Mason never freed the slaves he owned.  

Mason inherited tobacco lands in Virginia and Maryland of 15,000 acres including 5,500 at Gunston Hall, and eventually more 75,000 acres elsewhere. 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.  

==Virginia Declaration of Rights 1776==

==Virginia Declaration of Rights 1776==

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

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

==Constitution==

==Constitution==

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.   

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.   

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.  

However Mason finally refused to sign the document and spoke out in 1787 and 1788 against it because it lacked a [[Bill of Rights]]. To secure adoption in Virginia [[James Madison]] compromised and made the campaign promise to propose amendments, and the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791.  Mason was a close friend of [[George Washington]] until the 1787 Convention, but was an [[Antifederalist]] along with [[Patrick Henry]]. After 1787, he and George Washington were no longer friends. Mason favored very powerful state governments and did not want the national government to interfere.  

[[George Mason University]], a state university in Virginia,  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).