George Mason: Forgotten Founder

by Jeff Broadwater

George Mason (1725-92) is often omitted from the small circle of founding fathers celebrated today, but in his service to America he was, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, "of the first order of greatness." Jeff Broadwater provides a comprehensive account of Mason's life at the center of the momentous events of eighteenth-century America.

Mason played a key role in the Stamp Act Crisis, the American Revolution, and the drafting of Virginia's first state constitution. He is perhaps best known as author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, a document often hailed as the model for the Bill of Rights.

As a Virginia delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Mason influenced the emerging Constitution on point after point. Yet when he was rebuffed in his efforts to add a bill of rights and concluded the document did too little to protect the interests of the South, he refused to sign the final draft. Broadwater argues that Mason's recalcitrance was not the act of an isolated dissenter; rather, it emerged from the ideology of the American Revolution. Mason's concerns about the abuse of political power, Broadwater shows, went to the essence of the American experience.

Genres: Biography, History, American History, Nonfiction, American Revolution

329 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jeff Broadwater is a professor of history in the School of Humanities at Barton College. Dr. Broadwater has also taught at Vanderbilt University, Arkansas Tech University, Texas Woman’s University, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. From 1990 to 1992, he was Director of the John C. Stennis Oral History Project at Mississippi State University.

Reviews

[Breck Baumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

While certainly not the most energetic nor captivating of the Founding Era in retrospect, George Mason was a well respected and brilliant political force in his own time—revered and honored by such notable dignities as Washington and Jefferson. Biographer and historian Jeff Broadwater takes a comprehensive view of his subject and covers all aspects of his life including his authorship of the Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, his concern over the Stamp Act crisis, Anti-Federalist leanings and controversial demand for a Bill of Rights, and even down to his absences from Congress and hypocrisy on slavery. Upon finishing Broadwater's exceptional depiction of the Founder, the reader will fully comprehend Mason's accomplishments and contributions to society both in his own time and in the modern world.

Beginning with his birth in 1725 as the fourth George Mason in a line of wealthy Virginia landholders, we delve into his early upbringing where he receives an education mostly through books, marries and gives birth to a healthy George V, and constructs one of the first brick structures of Northern Virginia—still esteemed today and known as Gunston Hall. Broadwater has taken the time to put all available resources to paper in an appreciable fashion, as we are given his reading habits, his debilitating health problems from age 30 onward, to his early connection with Washington in surveying and land acquisition with the Ohio Company. The reader becomes aware that throughout his long political career—whether in the Burgesses or at the Constitutional Convention—Mason stays true to his own opinions and values, and never sticks to one party’s ideology over the other’s:

In actively supporting the Treaty of Paris, Mason had shown himself to be something of a nationalist. Frustrated with Virginia’s political institutions and committed to conservative fiscal policies, Mason seemed to have much in common with the political elite who led the push for a new, far more powerful national government. In reality, however, Mason’s local attachments, his fidelity to republican “first principles,” and his fundamental suspicion of government at any level would lead him in another direction.

Interestingly, George Mason’s abolitionist principles were evident early on during his protests over the Stamp Act, in which he alleged the immoral and impractical slavery institution led to Rome’s eventual decline. This was a position he long held and debated with, yet to the end of his life he owned a vast amount of slaves. While Broadwater’s writing can be a bit dry, the book is not overly academic in its tone, as he clearly has an appreciation for uncovering the life of his subject—all the while keeping a steady course in not being apologetic or dismissing some of Mason’s apparent faults. This is a splendid biography for those looking to uncover the life of a less-discussed founder, whose fingerprints can be found in a profound number of issues that are still sacredly held today. A map of “Mason’s Neck” is provided, as well as illustrations of Mason, his first wife Ann, and vivid photographs of the interior and exterior of Gunston Hall as it stands to this day.

[Carl Rollyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So why is George Mason a forgotten founder? As Jeff Broadwater notes in his biography, "George Mason, "during Mason's lifetime only Washington ranked higher in public esteem." An agile debater, Mason had a major impact on the Constitutional Convention. As principal author of Virginia's Declaration of Rights, his work served as a model for the Bill of Rights. Washington and Jefferson regarded him as indispensable to the revolutionary cause.

And yet Mason has not been accorded a niche in the pantheon that includes his august admirers. Mr. Broadwater canvases the traditional explanations for Mason's eclipse: He died in 1792, "too soon to play a major role in the politics of the federal government." But so did Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere, the biographer reminds us. The argument that Mason's anti-federalist disagreements have not worn well is perhaps more persuasive. Even though he was influential in drafting the Constitution, in the end, he opposed it.

Mr. Broadwater seems correct, though, in suggesting a more important reason for Mason's "relative obscurity": He wanted it that way. He made no effort to preen for posterity. Indeed, he often had to be virtually dragged from home to play his role in the Revolution and in nation-making. He did not seek national office. He did not write his memoirs. Unlike Washington, he did not carry with him a sort of portable archive that testified to his importance. Unlike Jefferson, Mason did not regard himself as a symbolic figure, representing in his person a body of ideas and a new form of government.

Mr. Broadwater shrewdly links Mason to John Adams. Both men were stout defenders of civil liberties and representative democracy. Mason was the first American to enunciate in writing an American political philosophy: "[T]he fundamental Principle of the People's being governed by no Laws, to which they have not given their Consent, by Representative freely chosen by themselves."This was the American Revolution in a nutshell. The British Parliament could not dictate terms or taxes to Americans who thought of themselves as having, in effect, dominion status before there was such a thing as a British Commonwealth of Nations.

But like Adams, Mr. Broadwater points out, Mason feared the new republic could founder on "unchecked individualism, transient popular majorities, and the inherent virtue of the marketplace."Such forces were sure to lead to corruption — as they had in Great Britain — and to a demagogic chief executive. Mason opposed the Constitution, in part, because he thought it gave too many powers to a popularly elected chief executive. Washington as the obvious choice for the first president posed no problem for Mason, but who to trust thereafter? Mason walked away from the Constitution, in other words, because he did not feel it contained enough checks and balances. He thought, for example, that the federal judiciary had been made too independent and that even federal issues (with a few significant exceptions) should be settled in state courts.

In retrospect, Mason's fears may seem misguided. And yet from his perspective — looking at how the monarchy and Parliament had developed — Mason had a point. After the all, Parliament had refused to seat the Whig, John Wilkes, four times (so much for accepting the will of the people!), and the initial American faith that George III could be appealed to directly as a representative of all the people proved fallacious.

While Mason supported a national government with a written constitution, he opposed a heavily centralized government in whichWashington, D. C., would function like Westminster. And was he so wrong? Take, for example, the issue of slavery. Mason was appalled that such a nefarious institution had been acknowledged and accommodated in the Constitution. A slaveholder himself, Mason had evidently witnessed how owning other human beings corrupted and degraded their owners. He did not believe that blacks were equal to whites, but slavery and the slave trade were evils he could not condone. I can imagine what Mason would have said about the Dred Scott decision. Didn't it show that not only the legislative, but also the judicial branch, had been corrupted into upholding an immoral institution?

This question, however, turned back on Mason himself, befuddles Mr. Broadwater. If Mason so vehemently opposed slavery, why did he not free at least a few of his slaves, as Jefferson did, or free them all, as Washington did in his will? "Mason never seemed defensive about his glaring inconsistency," the biographer observes. "In all likelihood, Mason believed, or convinced himself, that he had no options." This last sentence seems to imply that Mason may have been blind to his own hypocrisy. At any rate, Mr. Broadwater concludes, "Mason must have shared the fears of Jefferson and countless other whites that whites and free blacks could not live together."

Beware of the "must haves" of history. In effect, the biographer does not know what his subject thought but is keen to have him think it anyway. Call Mason a hypocrite, if you will, but look at it this way: Mason did not see himself as a symbolic figure. He always made a point of saying he was being drawn away from his private life as a planter, father, and husband to engage in public affairs. He was one of the few Virginian aristocrats who kept his own books and made significant profit out of his tobacco farming and land holdings. He operated within the system he had inherited. He did not wring his hands over it. He owed his children a debt-free future and a reasonable run at prosperity.

To be sure, Mason wanted to abolish slavery, starting by omitting any mention of it in the U. S. Constitution. But any gesture he made as an individual was, to him, trifling — or so I interpret his character. He could not stop the virus of slavery by eradicating it on his own plantation. He argued, instead, for a corporate decision that his colleagues, North and South, were not prepared to make.

To see him as I have makes Mason more principled, not less. If for nothing else he should be remembered because he saw that the Constitution — a great document, no doubt — was also infected with the germ of evil that would spread, in time, to the entire body politic.

[Brandon Minster · Rating 4 out of 5]

When your name is Jeff Broadwater and you write a book that mentions Charles Broadwater, I think your publisher should require you to have a footnote indicating whether or not he's your ancestor. Maybe we're getting a whitewashed version of Charles! The people have the right to know!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it 3 stars because George Mason was more important than our school texts taught us, and the book needed to be written. It also contained most of the pertinent facts about him and his period. However, it was dry and could only be read in disciplined slices of the little time available.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I whole heartily disagree with my friend who called this book “life altering.” This book failed to bring George Mason truly alive. I may have been spoiled by the genius of David McCullough, but this book is lack luster. It gives you a good idea of time period and the obstacles faced in forming a new government, but it gets to the point where you don’t care. That’s the worst bit. A sure sign—this book is only 252 pages and it took me three weeks to read…I normally go thru that in a couple days. Mason was the main author of the Virginia Constitution (became the blue print for the National version) and was one of the few who refused to vote “yea” in ratifying the Constitution. Overall, skip it. I now have a few new facts of trivial knowledge, but not worth the time spent.

Warning: Below my political soap box

Patrick Henry and George Mason have recently been pushed back into the spotlight by right wing Republicans. Right-wingers try to say that they only want to follow the original intent of the Founding Fathers and up hold the truest meaning of the Constitution. Well, the men they chose to idolize created the biggest opposition in its ratification. Towards the ends of their life they were viewed as friends who made themselves enemies of a common form of government. Is that what my fellow Republicans have come to? I hope not. I'm not trying to say they had no valid points, but I think it's an odd combo.

[Lee Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography of a sadly forgotten “founding father.” Mason was a man who was almost idolized by many of the more recognizable founders for his writings on the rights of the people. He was the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights which was used as a model for Thomas Jefferson’s later Declaration of Independence. It is ironic that much of Mason’s document was actually “borrowed” from the English Bill of Rights! Great ideas do not fade away; they are recycled and given new life by fresh thinking.
The author definitely does Mason justice. He is not the easiest man to understand either. He was a tireless advocate of the rights of citizens but refused to endorse or sign the Constitution, even though he wrote large portions of it including much of the Bill of Rights. His government service was actually limited to the state level which is probably a major reason why his accomplishments are overlooked today. If not for the university named after him he may have been completely forgotten by this time. We owe him better than this.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct and clearly written biography of vastly under appreciated Founding Father. George Mason was involved in each of the critical moments of the creation of the American republic. His authorship of the VA Declaration of Rights directly inspired the Declaration of Independence. His participation in the Constitutional Convention was in the echelon of figures such as Franklin and Madison. His opposition to the Constitution made him a pariah in Virginia’s Northern Neck yet was rooted in principle and is one of the main reasons for the Bill of Rights. Jeff Broadwater has done a fine job at portraying the factual history and brilliance of George Mason.

[Andy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been intrigued by what little I had read of him before. The book gave a good look at Virginia politics of 1700s and gave an interesting and different view of Washington, Jefferson and Madison. His antislavery views were more complex than I had thought and his role in Constitutional Convention and campaign against ratification was very interesting. One suprise was that many of his positions were not based on high principle as much as they focused on very narrow economic issues at the time

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting biography of George Mason; includes a lot of information about the period in which he lived. My main complaint about this book is that the author didn't adequately discuss Mason's impact. Although he lists Mason's accomplishments, he never discusses how the revolutionary and early national period might have been different had Mason not been involved. However, the author does provide a good analysis of Mason's reasons for opposing the Constitution.

[Robert Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent history and biography of Mason. Lots of details about Virginia local politics during the Revolutionary and Confederation periods, a great supplement to more general US histories of the period. Very well written, and very well annotated with sources.

[Margaret Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author leaves the impression that George Mason might have wanted to be “forgotten.” Although he was the first one to express in writing the whole substance of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence document, and subsequently worked tirelessly to express his beliefs about how the American Republic should be secured by its written Constitution, he is depicted here as sort of “quitting” the complicated debate when his own preferences were not perfectly adopted. He did not sign his name beside his fellow Founders when it was presented to the first states. One big reason was his distrust that the “promised” Bill of Rights would be added as a first act of the new Congress. He had also advocated for a “council to advise,” rather than a “cabinet to serve,” the chief executive branch of the new federal government. But there were also some possible personal self-interested jealousies about how land ownership would be expanded into as-yet-unsettled territories westward from the existing coastal states.

Actually, the book expands beyond Mason with much discussion of the other participants who first argued for breaking away from English governance, and later contributed to the design and writing of the Constitution to replace the initial Articles of the Confederation of the thirteen states. At times the story bogs down in minutia of who said what, when, where, and how, but it does demonstrate that the whole project was anything but easy. Clearly, Mason was a forceful help, for he wrote and spoke on the subjects crucial for governance by what turned into a new, new set of laws for a large population who agreed to denounce monarchy. The different interests and priorities of not only the different colonies-become-independent-states, but of each individual within those states had to be recognized and respected.

I agree that George Mason deserves recognition for his untiring efforts—despite his handicaps of health afflictions and personal family obligations—to promote a set of laws that would stand secure against corruption by unknown future office seekers. Of course, we can yet feel the dangers he feared, particularly before the first ten amendments were approved. But we can also feel relieved for his articulate push—and ultimate success—to get those amendments attached. He should not be forgotten.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Mason the Forgotten Founder provides a look at one of the people who heavily influenced the development of the constitution but is largely forgotten today due to his opposition to it during ratification. The scion of the libertarian movement of today and a man who was an ardent believer in limiting the federal government’s power (often today misappropriated for states rights). This book shows the power and authority that Mason held at the time and his esteem by his fellow Virginians. Mason was not a lawyer like many of his colleagues but he was as successful politician and played his skills well knowing how to argue effectively. This book can be dry at times as other reviewers noted but it provides a very strong look at Mason’s life, Virginia during the time and the role of a man often forgotten by our school textbooks. For those who consider themselves scholars of Revolutionary America this is one not to miss.

[Ryan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dry, and written more like a legal treatise in terms of language and the focus of subjects, but a good look at the more particular minutiae of, for instance, the Constitutional convention in Philadelphia while being lighter on details of Mason's life specifically (likely due to a lack of comprehensive historical artifacts surrounding George Mason).

On a more personal note, this is the fifth book on my quest to navigate American history from the Revolution era to present, and I now doubt the necessity of so comprehensive an undertaking. A lot of the information here is good, but repeats much of what I read first in other books. Might be time to take a broader tack.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Besides Jeff Broadwater's intervention with his thoughts and feelings on what Mason's thoughts probably were and sometimes backing this up by using other historians' feelings, it is nice to read a book about one of our founding fathers.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed and interesting.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Mason was an important figure, seemingly coming out of nowhere, just before and during the Revolution and up to the formulation of the Constitution. He is one of the lesser known founders, probably as much known for being one of the few who refused to sign the Constitution (along with such figures as Luther Martin and Elbridge Gerry).

One key aspect of Mason's personality (page 19): ". . .Mason possessed an incisive intellect and a commanding personality, but he was not inclined to suffer fools gladly or to compromise his own opinions. Given his nature, the mystery may not be why Mason initially showed little interest in the day-to-day business of government, but why he sought public office at all."

This book focuses on his consuming passion for business, including his tenacious effort to make the Ohio Company work. This land company intended to take land and develop it for the profit of the owners. It was a constant struggle and never panned out as desired. His political views had some quirky elements for the time, including a condemnation of slavery (although phrased in the context of the times), although he himself owned slaves.

Given his reputation as one of the leaders in the runup to the Revolution and through the Consitutional Convention, it is odd to see that he was not involved in politics in a major way until middle age. Yet, from 1774 to the Revolution, he bacame one of the major writers of Revolutionary tracts, laying out a critique of England and a case for freedom. While his relations with George Washington were sometimes frosty, he apparently worked well with other leading Virginians, such as Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, James Madison, and Richard Henry Lee.

After the Constitution was ratified, with Mason arguing against this document, his health began to decline, until he died in 1792. He grew disenchanted with the national government and disagreed with many of its policies after Washington became president. However, he appears to have remained on good terms with some officials, such as John Marshall and James Monroe. While he remained mildly active in local politics from 1789 until his death, he refused an appointment to the United States Senate.

In the end, Mason (page 251) "helped to make a respectable revolution." His legacy (page 251): ". . .his contribution to America's founding documents: the Declaration of Independence through the Virginia Declaration of Rights through his dogged opposition to a Constitution without one."

The book is not particularly elegantly written, but the style is serviceable. There is enough depth to the biography that the reader gains a pretty good picture of Mason, his life, his times, and his role in history. For those interested in the Founding generation and its major actors, this book would be a useful addition to one's library.

[Riq Hoelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comments recorded while reading.

This tends to be dry and often unengaging. A slow read.

Mason and Washington were neighbors along the Potomac all their lives, and worked together often, yet before the end of it, were no longer on speaking terms. I'm curious to find out the reason for this as the same thing happened between Washington and Jefferson. Probably because Mason refused to sign the constitution, but we'll see.

Page 60 says "track" where it intends "tract".

Mason wrote the original version of the all-important second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson's version reads so much better though. When one reads the writings of people from this era, there tend to be so many curlicues - extra words and parenthetical phrases. The best writers - Franklin, Paine, Jefferson and Gouverneur Morris - thankfully avoid that and are much more readable.

Page 122 says "tenants", but intends "tenets". Continuously spells "siege" as "seige".

His main objection to the constitution does not appear to be the omission of a bill of rights. Though it was on his list, he didn't even raise the issue until the final days of the convention. The one he mentioned most often was that Congress could pass navigation acts with a simple majority, thus being able to use them against the South. Other objections:
- Congess might change the election rules to its own benefit
- He didn't want the "no ex post facto legislation" law.
- He felt the Senate had too much power and would become aristocrats.
- He also felt the president had too much power and wanted an advisory council to serve as a check on that office.
- In general it didn't do enough to protect Virginia planters.

As to Washington, he considered the fact that Mason had published his objections to the constitution bad behavior and considering the desperate nature of the situation, unhelpful. When after ratification Mason continued to oppose the government, for example resigning a court job rather than take a loyalty oath, Washington's tolerance ran out.

[Gerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is a knowledgeable professional educator. Dr. Broadwater is a History Professor at Barton College; School of Humanities. It isn’t often I struggle with a book; but, it happens. This book was such a book – a struggle. It isn’t that Dr. Broadwater didn’t have the information he studied and referenced; and, it isn’t that he didn’t attempt to piece it together. The simple point is that the author made this book into more of crammed lecture than he did of bringing this history to life. History is filled with topics that by the shear title are boring; it takes an author to tell the story without embellishments that conveys the interest of the reader – this is not the case with “George Mason, Forgotten Founder”. The author had a potentially boring topic and created a 300+ page book that turned out to be a sleeping pill – I was determined to get through it however.

The few parts that were interesting covered scantily a paragraph or two here or there to which each time I had hoped the “flow” of the read would keep that sort of pace – it never did and always failed me. I really wanted to like this book but the reason for the low rating is as stated above. I have been to Gunston Hall – the grounds and home are a wonderful site – this book did not capture any of that either in my opinion. Gunston Hall is but a small drive away from the George Washington Mount Vernon Estate that is ran by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Sadly this friendship between Washington and Mason ended before Mason’s death. I am also of the opinion that if one has the chance to visit Gunston Hall this would be better than reading this book. Disappointed I spent $30 on this thing – guess I will donate it to my local library as I do not want to keep it in my personal library.

[Douglas Graney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, too wordy but that's what you get when historians, instead of writers, write books. Lots of insight in Virginia politics of the era and the constitutional convention. Mason, like other founding fathers from in Virginia had vexing views on slavery. This is more worthy of scanning than reading every word. A highly edited version of this would be a nice gift (and required reading) to incoming freshman at George Mason University.

[Drtaxsacto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had two reasons for wanting to read this book - Mason is an interesting figure in the Constitutional history of the country and he is an ancestor. His misgivings about a constitution without a bill of rights and his general skepticism of governmental authority make him an important (if neglected) figure in our history. Broadwater does a great job in a relatively short book in explaining both the details of his life and his philosophy.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay it focused almost primarily on Mason’s political life and his influence through the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the Virginia Constitution and his influence on the Constitution, even thought he was one of the few delegates who did not sign it. It really failed to delve at all into his early life or his personal life.

[Bill Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read comments made about George Mason in various other books about this time period in American history. I have an interest in learning more about our Founding Fathers and I was delighted to find out more about this man's contributions to our country.

[Craig Bolton]

"George Mason, Forgotten Founder by Jeff Broadwater (2006)"

[Anissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for a report on him for school. It become tedious. It was informative, but written so dry. His subject was very interesting though.

[Stephen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Found the book very dry. Hard to keep my interest. Maybe if Mr. Mason was like this book it's good he was forgotten.