With special thanks to Constituting America and Heritage College, we will be taking part in their project:The U.S. Constitution: A Reader. It is a 90 day challenge to learn and dive deeper into understanding the Constitution.
In case you missed it, catch up with day 17 HERE. We hope you are enjoying this journey to dig deeper into what inspired those who wrote the Constitution. If you are, TWEET IT!
For today’s reading: CLICK HERE
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Widely considered as one of the Founding Fathers, no one was more influential as George Mason. His work helped shape things to come in America. While serving as a delegate for Virginia, he drafted what we know today as the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
A document has never had the traction as such did his work. Its tones can be connected with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Ratified in June of 1776, it still stands virtually unchanged as part of the Constitution of the State of Virginia.
Below you will find a few ideas from this document that found its way into the national government.
- That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights . . . namely . . . of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
- Power is derived from the People
- That government is instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community
- That the Legislative and Executive powers of the State should be seperate and distinct from the Judicative
- A man hath a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses; and to a speedy trial by and impartial jury of his vicinage.
- That the freedom of the Press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained by by a despotic Government.
- That a well-regulated Militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free State.
- All men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion.
That is quite a list of ideas that helped found this nation. And, while he did have a small bit of help with wording and the likes, but his patriotism has never been questioned. And, with a resume topped with drafting one of the most influential documents this nation has seen, it is easy to see why.
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