Richard+Henry+Lee+-+F08

(Richard Henry Lee A.K.A. Ugly Fella)

Richard Henry Lee was a leader in the Anti-Federalist movement in the modern United States of America, alongside the likes of Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry (whom he had met at Virginia House of Burgesses). The Anti-Federalists were the representatives of the poorer classes and so thought that the Federalists were using the Constitution as a "plot by the upper crust to steal power back from the common folk." Henry Lee was born, grew up and lived in Virginia, only leaving it to go to school in England and then returning with new knowledge. This was accustomed to those who could pay the expenses of sending their children abroad to better schools. Virginia was the biggest state amongst the original 13 colonies with a population of approximately 747,610 people and, therefore, was the one state the Federalists wanted on their side. However, Virginia was very Anti-Federalist and they stayed that way until well after the ratification of the Constitution was already accomplished. They were the 10th state to ratify, after figuring that it would happen anyway now that New Hampshire had ratified. In 1774 Lee was elected to attend the first Continental Congress. It was Lee whom put forth the idea to Continental Congress to declare independence from Great Britain (also know as Lee's Resolution).

In his own words, //"...That these united Colonies are, and ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance from the British crown, and that all political connection between America and State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved..."//

It would have been he who wrote the Declaration of Independence, not Thomas Jefferson, if not for his wife falling ill. He did, however, sign the Declaration of Independence as did his brother Francis Lightfoot Lee. Until 1784, Richard Henry would not accept a position in the Congress with belief that he was of more benefit to be seated on the Virginian assembly. However, Virginian's honoured him by appointing him as their representative to Congress, where he was unanimously elected President. Under the new Constitution, Lee was appointed as the first Senator of the state of Virginia. From this position, he offered several amendments to Congress in hope of a safer country.

__**Works Cited**__

"Stratford." __Stratford Hall__. 2002. Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, Inc. 17 Sept. 2008 .

Vinci, John. "Richard Henry Lee." __Colonial Hall__. 2 Jan. 2004. 17 Sept. 2008 .

Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. __American Pageant : Advanced Placement__. 12th ed. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin College Division, 2001.