George Mason 's Declaration Of Rights

On June 12, 1776, in Williamsburg, Virginia, the Virginia Convention unanimously agreed to adopt George Mason’s declaration of rights, now known as the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Much of the Virginia Declaration was influenced by the writings of John Locke. During the seventeenth century, shortly after King James II was overthrown, John Locke wrote the Second Treatise of Civil Government to explain why King James’s II overthrow was justifiable. Through much of Locke’s writings, his main idea was how man was born with natural rights, specifically property and liberty. This can be seen when he writes “the state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” This influences George Mason in section one where he wrote “ That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.” Locke also speaks about how the legislative gets its power from “the hands where the community placed it.” George Manson shows his influence on this in section two where he writes “That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.” Not only was the Virginia Declaration of Rights an important piece of our history of America, but it leads to and influenced a...

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...e executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows, and Article 3, The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office, outline the separation of the powers of government and how much power each branch has and what they are responsible for. Locke influenced the constitution in setting the ideas for the power of the people and preserving their liberties.