Richard+Henry+Lee+-+SP09

Represented Virginia ** 1757-Lee was Justice of the Peace of Westmoreland County -Member of Virginia House of Burgesses from 1758-1775 ---one of first speeches was about his opposition to slavery ---joined Patriot or Whig alliance -1773-Member of the Virginia committee of correspondence -1775-1779-member of congress ---connection with foreign affairs -signed Declaration of Independence in 1776 -part of Virginia House of Delegates in 1777, 1780-1784, 1786-1787 -back to congress 1784-1787 ---proposed 10th amendment -1789-1792-senator
 * Richard Henry Lee**
 * Anti-federalist
 * Occupation History:**

**Constitutional Convention:** Richard Henry Lee was chosen to attend the constitutional convention, but he did not attend, along with Patrick Henry. He did not attend because he was opposed to what he thought the constitution was going to do. Richard Henry Lee did attend the Virginia ratifying convention, however he was still opposed to ratifying the constitution.
 * Virginia state convention:**

**Friends:** Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson Robert Yates George Mason John Adams James Madison George Washington James Wilson Benjamin Franklin John Jay Alexander Hamilton
 * Foes:**

**Arguments Against Ratifying the Constitution:** -since there is no bill of rights, the people wont know when the government is violating their rights -it gave too much power to the national government and took away power from the state governments -the national government could maintain an army in peacetime -congress had too much power -the executive branch held too much power -he didn't like that the strong central government could do what ever they wanted without guaranteeing any rights to the citizens - "To say that a bad government must be established for fear of anarchy is really saying that we should kill ourselves for fear of dying". -Richard Henry Lee's famous resolution called for independence, an alliance with France, and a plan of interstate confederation -states should be the primary unit of government -smaller state governments would better fufil the wants and needs of the people -congress has too much power under the constitution -the house of representatives was the only form of direct contact with the people, and 65 people is not enough to represent an entire nation -a two year term in the house of representatives was too long-the people need to be heard-state legislators only have one year terms -the executive branch has too much power-the transfer of power from president to president would be too chaotic-he believed that it would be putting the country in danger to have one person have full control over the military and state's militia -since the vice president is president of the senate and can cast a vote in the result of a tie, it is violating separation of powers
 * -lacked bills of rights**(The American people had just fought a war to defend their rights, they didn't want the government taking them away)
 * - ** "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States," (Lee's resolution)

Bibliography: "A Biography of Richard Henry Lee." __From Revolution to Reconstruction__. 05 Feb 2007. 12 Feb 2009 <[|http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/rhlee/rhlee.htm]>. Lee, Richard Henry. "On the Rights that Must Be Preserved in the New Constitution." __Encyclopedia Brittanica__. Annals of American History. 12 Feb 2009 . "Richard Henry Lee." __Colonial Williamsburg__. 2009. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. 12 Feb 2009 .

"Richard Henry Lee." 2008. NNDB. 12 Feb 2009 .