The fundamental concepts of American democracy were not developed through one
document and author but rather were formed by a series of major documents. The Virginia
Declaration of Rights, which was written by George Mason in 1776, was one of the first to set a
foundation for a citizen’s individual liberty and political responsibilities. This document had a
significant impact on both the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted later that same
year, and the Bill of Rights, approved in 1791 as the first ten amendments to the United States
Constitution. Each of these books highlighted the important rights and role of government in
upholding those rights. This essay will look at how the Virginia Declaration of Rights is like the
Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, emphasizing Virginia's important role in
defining the United States' foundational ideas.
One of the strongest similarities between the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the
Declaration of Independence is their emphasis on rights. According to the Virginia Declaration,
"all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights," which
include life, liberty, the means of pursuing happiness, and property. 1Similarly, the Declaration
of Independence states that "all men are created equal" and "endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights," including "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. “This shared
language indicates a belief in fundamental human rights as the basis for just governance. Another
resemblance is that the government draws its authority from the consent of the people. George
Mason's Virginia Declaration contends that all authority is vested in and derives from the people
and that authorities must answer to them.2 Similarly, the Declaration of Independence states that
governments are formed among men to protect these rights and that if any government becomes
1 Declaration of Independence, para. 2, National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/founding-
docs/declaration.
2 Virginia Declaration of Rights, §1, National Archives,
https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/virginia_declaration_of_rights.html.
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harmful to these goals, the people have the right to change or destroy them. These connections
demonstrate how the Virginia Declaration strongly affected the values contained in the nation's
most well-known foundational document, laying the groundwork for American revolutionary
philosophy.
The Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Bill of Rights contain important parallel ideas,
particularly in their protection of individual liberty. Both texts emphasize the importance of
religious and press freedoms. Section 16 of the Virginia Declaration asserts that "religion... can
be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence," so affirming individuals'
right to freely exercise religion.3 This principle is repeated in the First Amendment of the Bill of
Rights, which prevents Congress from enacting any law "respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," while also guaranteeing freedom of speech and the
press.4 Furthermore, both documents ensure the right to a fair trial. The Virginia Declaration
guarantees that "a man hath a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation" and "a
speedy trial by an impartial jury. “These similar safeguards are found in the Sixth Amendment to
the Bill of Rights, which provides the accused the right to a prompt and public trial before an
unbiased jury, as well as the right to be notified of the charges against them.The strong
connections between these two agreements show how principles first stated in Virginia
established the foundation for the national legal framework and civil liberties protection in the
United States.
3 Virginia Declaration of Rights, §1, National Archives,
https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/virginia_declaration_of_rights.html.
4 Bill of Rights, Amendment I, National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-
of-rights.
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When comparing the Virginia Declaration of Rights to the Declaration of Independence
and the Bill of Rights, it is apparent that Virginia played a critical role in defining the United
States' founding values. The emphasis on natural rights, consent-based government, religious
freedom, and legal protections for the accused demonstrates how principles first stated by
George Mason were eventually implemented on a national basis. These documents all support
the idea that individual rights must be maintained and that governments exist to serve the people.
This comparison emphasizes Virginia's long-standing contributions to American democracy and
the formation of a constitutional government based on the preservation of fundamental human
rights.
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Bibliography
Virginia Declaration of Rights, §1, National Archives,
https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/virginia_declaration_of_rights.html.
Declaration of Independence, para. 2, National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/founding-
docs/declaration.
Bill of Rights, Amendment I, National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-
of-rights.
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