Rebecca


 * Richard Henry Lee**


 * Position**: Anti-Federalist

Virginia during the 18th century was the largest and most populous colony with nearly half the population comprised of slaves. The economy was mainly supported by tobacco, the cash crop at the time. Thus, there were many farmers and slaves to work in the fields and plantations; there was a small number of Virginian men who were wealthy planters or merchants. Virginia was very diverse, with men from England, Scotland, Ireland, or Germany. A small farm family would most likely have worshiped in the local Anglican Church.
 * Virginia Representative:**

Lee was born on January 20, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia into a wealthy, notable family. He received private tutoring and completed his education at Wakefield Academy in England in 1751. His love for politics began in 1757, when he became a justice of the peace in his county, and in 1758 he entered the House of Burgesses. He also was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1775, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and was a senator for Virginia. He had two wives and died on June 19, 1794.
 * Occupation and Background:**

Although elected to go, poor health kept Lee away from the constitutional convention, but he subsequently authored an influential anti-federalist pamphlet and many letters sharing his viewpoints. His notable pamphlets with the collective title “Letters of the Federal Farmer” outlined his objections.
 * Constitutional Convention:**

Lee was a member of Virginia's Ratifying Convention. The required nine states had already approved of the Constitution when Virginia was still deliberating, but the decision Virginia would make could still affect the power of the Constitution; imagine if the most powerful state didn't approve of the document -- how effective could it be then? In the end, Lee voted for the ratification of the Federal Constitution in 1788 with 14 suggestions to the proposed constitution "to protect the just rights and liberty of mankind."
 * States Ratifying Convention:**

Lee opposed ratifying the federal constitution, as he favored strong state rights. His main concern was that the Constitution lacked a bill of rights. He also worried that the Constitution was shaping the American government into a consolidated tyranny, rather than a federal government. These were some points he wanted in a bill of rights, if there were to be a bill of rights added:
 * Constitution Arguments:**
 * religious tolerance
 * freedom of press
 * trial by jury
 * elections should be free and frequent
 * no cruel/unusual punishments
 * that the government act with mature judgement

Some friends: Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Robert Yates. Some Foes: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.

 //Colonial LIfe//. Williamsburg: Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, n.d. PDF. . . Goldfield, David R., Carl Abbott, Virginia D. Anderson, Jo Ann E. Argersinger, Peter H. Argersinger, William L. Barney, and Robert M. Weir. "Chapter 6." //The American Journey//. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. 140-41. Print. .  *Lee, Richard H. "Lee's Amendment Proposals." //Richard Henry Lee's Proposals//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. . .  *Lee, Richard H. "Objections to the Constitution." Letter to Edmund Randolph. 16 Oct. 1787. //Richard Henry Lee’s Objections to the// //Constitution//. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. . .  Lloyd, Gordon. "Summary and Texts of the Major Antifederalists." //Timeline of the Ratification of the Constitution//. TeachingAmericanHistory.org, n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. . .  Mintz, S., and S. McNeil. "Richard Henry Lee." //Digital History//. N.p., 2012. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. . .  "Richard Henry Lee." //Colonial Williamsburg//. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. . . <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times; font-size: 16px;"> "Richard Henry Lee." //Principles of Freedom//. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. <http://research.history.org/pf/signers/bio_henryLee.cfm>. . <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times; font-size: 16px;"> Ushistory.org. "After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers"" //After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers" [ushistory.org]//. U.S. History Online Textbook, n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2012. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/16d.asp>. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times; font-size: 16px;">
 * Bibliography:**