“It has no declaration of rights”

“It has no declaration of rights” George Mason Thomas Jefferson James Madison

George Mason • Lived in Virginia from 1725-1792 • Wealthy Planter • Wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights • Friends with George Washington and • Thomas Jefferson • Attended the Constitutional Convention • Very strong opinions, debated at the convention But he wouldn’t sign the Constitution because it didn’t have a list of the rights of the people – A Bill of Rights

Virginia Declaration of Rights • “That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural Rights… among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.”  -- George Mason. Virginia Declaration of Rights, May, 1776.

Thomas Jefferson • Lived from 1743-1826 • Wrote the Declaration of Independence • Was Sec of State, then Vice Pres, then President (3rd, 1801-09) • Practiced law in Virginia • Home was Monticello

Declaration of Independence • “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, July 1776

Thinking the same thing • That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural Rights… among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety • We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

James Madison • Born in 1751 in Virginia • A delegate to the Constitutional Convention • Very outspoken in his views • Took careful notes on everything that was said • Known as the “Father of the Constitution” because he wrote much of it. (1787) • Promised Jefferson, his best friend, that he would add a Bill of Rights later. • Bill of Rights was added in 1791 • Was 4th President of the US 1809-1817

Bill of Rights • Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition • Right to keep guns • Right of privacy, no searches without search warrants • Protection of life, liberty and property. • You don’t have to testify against yourself • Right to fair jury trial • No cruel or unusual punishment

Virginia Declaration of Rights • Power in government should come from the people • All men should be able to vote • No one can take people’s property without their consent • If you are accused of a crime you have the right to a trial by a jury • You don’t have to testify against yourself • No one can search your house without a search warrant (right of privacy) • No cruel or unusual punishment is allowed • Freedom of the press • Freedom of religion

“It has no declaration of rights”