The Virginia Declaration of Rights

In May of 1776, delegates representing the People of Virginia met in Williamsburg for the purposes of declaring independence and creating a New Government. Their convention eventually became the first group to form a Republican Government, and the first group to declare their independence from the mother country.

On May 15th, 1776, the Virginia Convention adopted a resolution to instruct their representatives to the Constitutional Convention to propose independence. The Virginia Convention also formed a committee to create a Declaration of Rights and State Constitution.

The Virginia Committee for the creation of a Declaration of Rights and Constitution, chaired by George Mason IV, and included Richard Ludwell Lee, and a very young James Madison. Mr. Mason, became impatient with the Committee and took it upon himself to write a draft Declaration of rights and submit it to the committee.