George+Mason+-+SP09

Part of the Anti-Federalists

Was a rich Virginian plantation owner

__Life's Work__ Very well educated; read from uncle's 1500-volume library (law books) Owner of Gunston Hall in Virginia A justice of the Fairfax County Court Was elected into the Virginia House of Burgesses(1759) communicated foreign affairs with London Merchants about the troubles of the Stamp Act Most commonly known for his addition to the Constitution's Bill Of Rights, which was said to be based off of Virginia's Declaration of Rights He wrote the Virginia Constitution (1776) //never left state government, except for the Contenitial Congress//

__Views at the Conventition-__ voted against the Constitution

Strongly believed that the Constitution needed a bill of rights (which Madison later constructed) He didn't like how the Vice President was the head of the Congress, which conbined the exectutive and legislative branches together. He didn't like how the navigation laws were a majority vote rather than a two-thirds vote (north out-numbered the south 5:8) Believed that the Executive Branch should have three people run it instead of one.

Believed that the executive powers and the legislative powers should be seperate from the judicial branch. As well as, requiring them to be re-elected every few years. Thought that with the seperation of powers, the the government could be stuck in a stand still and nothing could be done.

Lost argument on the Navigational Laws

__Friends__ James Madison (helped construct the Bill of Rights and fellow Virginian) Elbridge Gerry (seconded Mason's vote for a Bill of Rights at the Convention) Patrick Henry

__Foes__ George Washington (rival fellow Virginian)....(Mason was a perfectionist compared to Washington's "good enough" quality) Richard Henry Lee

"“A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution”". The James Madison Center. 12 Feb 2009 .


 * A. Rutland, Robert. "The Executive Should be a Comittee". North Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press, 1970.

Daanen, Jeroen. "George Mason 1725-1792". From Revolution to Reconstruction. 12 Feb 2009 .


 * Mount, Steve. "The Virginia Declaration of Rights". U.S. Constitution Online. 12 Feb. 2009 .