Introduction
The Constitutional Convention primarily took place in 1787 to correct numerous problems visible in the government following the independence from Great Britain. The few delegates that attended the Convention to discuss the government situation had a great argument regarding the changes everyone thought fitting for the Constitution. However, one of the few attendants, George Mason, voted for citizen’s rights and tried to create a constitution that would grant people protection of individual rights.
Discussion
To begin with, the Convention was dependent on the decisions of the delegates who shared different political beliefs and viewpoints. For instance, while George Washington was an avid federalist and believed in the superiority of leadership, he was still anonymously chosen as a leader of congress. To elaborate, many delegates, including Patrick Henry, Edmund Randolph, and George Mason, were anti-federalists and did not support the purpose of the Convention. The heated argument between both parties at the conference nearly sabotaged the ratification of the Constitution in 1787. George Mason was one of the leading opposers of the changes to the document and did not support the directions many delegates took in the discussion. It may seem, though, that Mason failed to protect the individual rights of the citizens since the Convention’s conclusions mainly focused on many new powers entrusted to the new government.
Yet the loss of the battle at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 did not mean that George Mason and other fellow anti-federalists would not win a more significant victory. The following discussions at the congress resulted in a mutually beneficial deal between both sides. As a matter of fact, Mason’s activism led to his contribution to accomplishing the written protections of individual rights after the following first Congress convention. George Mason had previously attended a few debates concerning the significance of a bill of rights but, unfortunately, failed in bringing the matter further at the time.
Mason contributed to the literature with his many works regarding the criticality of the protection of individual rights and analyses of the new government. In fact, when the Bill of Rights was drafted, James Madison heavily leaned on the early work of George Mason to further formulate and count to the Constitution. George Mason’s many objections regarding the inadequate protection of U.S. citizens were also transcribed into the document known as “Objections to the Constitution”. Moreover, Mason is known as a primary author of Virginia’s Constitution who successfully managed to note the unsatisfactory government of Great Britain. He also described a new structure of the government that would have numerous branches and levels to properly distribute powers and responsibilities. Mason’s document was one of the first Constitutions that was later used as an example and basis for formulating the Constitutions in other states across the country.
Conclusion
To conclude, George Mason was an advocate for citizens’ rights and protection, putting a lot of effort into reaching the Bill of Rights. The delegate’s contribution to the Constitution of Virginia was of utmost criticality as it shared the new vision of the government that would have different powers and obligations. In addition, Mason’s establishment of new regulations for the U.S. government became central to American democracy. Overall, his strong beliefs and opinions also led to the relatively satisfactory ending of the Constitutional Convention back in 1787.
Bibliography
George Mason’s Gunston Hall. 2022. “Mason and the Constitution.” George Mason’s Gunston Hall. Web.
MacDonald, J. 2022. “George Mason.” George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Web.
Wilbourn Eugene Benton. 1986. 1787: Drafting the U.S. Constitution. College Station (Tex.): Texas A & M University Press.