Constitutional Convention and Compromises · US History

Why did George Mason and Elbridge Gerry refuse to sign the final Constitution in September 1787?

  1. They believed the President should be elected for life
  2. They wanted to move the capital to Philadelphia permanently
  3. It gave the Southern states too much power through the 3/5ths clause
  4. It lacked a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties
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Correct answer: It lacked a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties

Despite being active participants in the convention, they feared that the new central government was too powerful and could infringe on personal freedoms. Their dissent helped spark the demand for a Bill of Rights during the ratification process.

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