2. THE VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS The Virginia Declaration of Rights

3. 1. What did the colonists do even before the Declaration of Independence was signed? They began preparing new state constitutions 2. New Hampshire was the first state to do what? Create a state constitution

4. 3. The new state constitutions were similar because” Each state had a legislature to create laws There was a governor to carry out the laws Each state had judges and courts to interpret the laws

5. 4. Most state constitutions included a Bill of rights 5. What did a bill of rights guarantee a state’s citizen? Certain basic freedoms and legal protection

6. George Mason  American patriot  Planter (Gunston Hall)  Statesman/politician  Delegate for Virginia  Never a president  George Mason University was named in honor of him  Mostly know for writing the Virginia Declaration of Rights

7. Virginia Declaration of Rights George Mason, one of Virginia's wealthiest planters, a neighbor and friend of Washington helped to write Virginia’s first state constitution. He believed that the people of Virginia deserved the rights and freedoms denied them by Great Britain. George Mason wanted added to the constitution these rights. He drafted a Declaration of Rights that was ratified as part of the new Virginia Constitution

8. Virginia Declaration of Rights The most important fact about the Virginia Declaration of Rights it later became a model for the U. S. Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution.

9. Make your own document! Date of the document 1776 Author of the document George Mason

10. Objective Check Purpose of the document Established that the citizens of Virginia were guaranteed certain rights and freedoms How did the document influence the Constitution? Became a model for the Bill of Rights to the Constitution

11. Objective Check Purpose of the document Established that the citizens of Virginia were guaranteed certain rights and freedoms How did the document influence the Constitution? Became a model for the Bill of Rights to the Constitution