Our Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, delegates analyzed, argued and debated the new Constitution. George Mason, a Virginian, pleaded with the fifty-five delegates for a list of guaranteed rights. Mason (sometimes referred to as the "Father" of the Bill of Rights) wanted the new Constitution to guarantee freedom of speech, press, and religion, and the right to a fair jury trial. He also wanted to include the freedom to vote. Earlier in his career, Mason had worked hard at the Virginia Assembly to help write a state constitution along with sixteen human rights. Other colonies liked this idea and added rights to their own state constitutions. By 1783, all thirteen colonies had some version of a bill of rights. On September 17, 1787, Mason proposed that a bill of rights be add to the Constitution, but the idea was voted down. George Mason, along with Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and other Anti-Federalists opposed ratifying the Constitution. However, upon the promise from George Washington and other Federalists to add a bill of rights, the Constitution was ratified by nine of the thirteen states. The states sent 189 suggested changes for the Constitution. James Madison narrowed them down to seventeen amendments. Congress approved twelve and the states rejected two. Finally, the ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights was adopted.