George Mason: Architect of the US Constitution

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George Mason had the most impact upon the creation and ideas contained within the United States constitution. He was appointed delegate in 1786 and served from May to September 1787; he was one of the most frequent speakers. Since the beginning George Mason was a strong supporter of bicameral legislature and wanted the election of United States senators by state legislatures. In July 1787, Mason proposed for a national executive having only one person who would be chosen for seven years by the national legislature without a second term. He argued that the House of Representatives was not truly representative of the people and that the United States senate had too much power. Also, he was against the powers of the federal judiciary arguing that …show more content…

He felt that the convention was rushing to have an ill-advised constitution for the country. In a letter written to his son he expressed his angst by writing that he "would sooner chop off his right hand than put it to the Constitution as it now stands." Mason proposed a new convention to reconsider not having a bill of rights. This motion was rejected by a majority of votes but anti federalists did not abandon this idea and continued to suggest it again and again for two years. Before the final vote of the Constitution on September 15, Edmund Randolph joined by George Mason and Elbridge Gerry suggested that amendments be made by the state conventions and considered in another general convention. This was also turned down by the rest of the delegates which added to Mason’s reasons for not signing the constitution. He had also not signed it because it did not protect the rights of states to have slavery where it already existed, it did not immediately stop the importation of slaves, and because there was no bill of rights. Earlier on Mason had served in the Virginia Convention in 1776 where he created drafts of the first declaration of rights. When his idea for a bill of rights was turned down he helped the anti-federalists opposing approval of the Constitution unless it included a Bill of Rights. Eventually Mason carried his point across on individual rights when the first ten amendments were approved in 1791 which were based on Mason’s 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights. This was due in part because James Madison proposed a bill of rights to the Congress on June 8, 1789. Mason’s master draft was not only based on Virginia Declaration of Rights but on Declarations of Rights of Pennsylvania and Maryland as well. George Mason had a great impact on the formation of the United States Constitution and the ideas contained

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