Comments on: "The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution" book review http://www.notquitecenter.com/2008/09/24/the-summer-of-1787-the-men-who-invented-the-constitution-book-review/ Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:37:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Centrist http://www.notquitecenter.com/2008/09/24/the-summer-of-1787-the-men-who-invented-the-constitution-book-review/#comment-272 Centrist Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:16:59 +0000 http://www.notquitecenter.com/?p=128#comment-272 Another interesting thing about Mason was his contribution to the documents of the Founding. His "Virginia Declaration of Rights" was the precursor to the "Declaration of Independence," and he was an ardent advocate of a Bill of Rights; in fact, the lack of one was his biggest reason for opposing the Constitution. His influence was crucial in the Bill of Rights becoming a reality in 1791. The protections we associate most with the Constitution, those enumerated in the Bill of Rights, were not adopted until three years after the ratification of the Constitution, and it might not have happened at all had George Mason not stuck to his guns and gone against that same Constitution. Another interesting thing about Mason was his contribution to the documents of the Founding. His “Virginia Declaration of Rights” was the precursor to the “Declaration of Independence,” and he was an ardent advocate of a Bill of Rights; in fact, the lack of one was his biggest reason for opposing the Constitution. His influence was crucial in the Bill of Rights becoming a reality in 1791. The protections we associate most with the Constitution, those enumerated in the Bill of Rights, were not adopted until three years after the ratification of the Constitution, and it might not have happened at all had George Mason not stuck to his guns and gone against that same Constitution.

]]> By: Mike W. http://www.notquitecenter.com/2008/09/24/the-summer-of-1787-the-men-who-invented-the-constitution-book-review/#comment-271 Mike W. Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:56:46 +0000 http://www.notquitecenter.com/?p=128#comment-271 Great review, Dave. Mason is a fascinating character. He had about 76 amendments that he submitted to Madison (who pared the list down to I think 17 in order to contain the debate). Many of his amendments would have prevented a good deal of constitutional problems we have dealt with and are still dealing with. A good place to start (if you like primary sources like I do) is The Anti-Federalist Papers, a collection of papers written by those who opposed the constitution (like Patrick Henry) with transcripts of certain crucial debates. You get to see that Hamilton's goal all along was to create an entity that would eventually subserviate (is that a word?) the states (which makes it hard to stomach some of his arguments in the Federalist Papers because you know he's arguing from, at times, a disingenuous position). Great review, Dave.

Mason is a fascinating character. He had about 76 amendments that he submitted to Madison (who pared the list down to I think 17 in order to contain the debate). Many of his amendments would have prevented a good deal of constitutional problems we have dealt with and are still dealing with.

A good place to start (if you like primary sources like I do) is The Anti-Federalist Papers, a collection of papers written by those who opposed the constitution (like Patrick Henry) with transcripts of certain crucial debates. You get to see that Hamilton’s goal all along was to create an entity that would eventually subserviate (is that a word?) the states (which makes it hard to stomach some of his arguments in the Federalist Papers because you know he’s arguing from, at times, a disingenuous position).

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