The Bill of Rights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Bill of Rights - Research Paper Example Origins of Bill of Rights Delegates from thirteen new American states drafted the Constitution in 1787 (U.S. Department of State). It provided the â€Å"blueprint† on the structure and functions of the government, but lacked a specific outline of human rights (Department of State). Virginia delegate George Mason stressed in one of his writings: â€Å"The Eyes of the United States are turned upon this Assembly and their Expectations raised to a very anxious Degree† (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration [NARA]). Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights that inspired Thomas Jefferson in preparing the Declaration of Independence. Mason left the convention very dissatisfied, because it lacked a declaration of rights (NARA). Soon, George Mason's opinions affected the assembly and a heated discussion on the Bill of Rights began. When James Madison first wrote the amendments to the Constitution, which constituted the Bill of Rights, he depended a great deal o n the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The Bill of Rights represents the authoritative statement of many American of values: â€Å"the idea that the individual is prior to and takes precedence over any government† (NARA; Zinn).