George Mason

Real World Example

George Mason was a delegate from Virginia who played a crucial role in shaping American government during the 1780s. He refused to sign the United States Constitution in 1787 because it lacked a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms. His insistence on these rights influenced the creation of the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, which were added to the Constitution in 1791. This legacy is significant today as it ensures freedoms such as speech and religion, which are vital to American life. For example, when students express their opinions in school newspapers, they are exercising freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights, a result of Mason's advocacy.