THE MAGNA CARTAAidan Janz

Sutherland Secondary Law 12

WHAT IS IT? The Magna Carta was written in 1215 CE and is an English

legal document which had a huge influence on the developing legal system of England.

Many people believe it was one of the most important documents of all time, because it helps define our modern day laws.

The Magna Carta was a collection of 37 English laws - some copied, some recollected, some old and some new

Signing of the Magna Carta The barons were providing the king with men to defend his territory and were

giving him money. Traditionally, the king had always consulted the barons before raising taxes and demanding more men for military service

The Barons began to get fed up with their king, so they made him sign the Magna Carta which created fairness to all the people.

The document was a group of written rules between the king and the people that the king would govern England and deal with its subjects according to the customs of feudal law.

SUMMARY OF THE MAGNA CARTA The Church was to be free from royal interference, especially in the

election of bishops - The king had no part of anything that was happening within the church.

No taxes except the regular feudal dues were to be levied, except by the consent of the Great Council, or Parliament

The right to “due process” which led to Trial by Jury

All weights and measures to be kept uniform throughout the realm

JOHN, KING OF ENGLAND - King John, 12 youngest son of Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine was born in

1167 and died in 1216 - In 1191, John was left in charge of England when Richard, his oldest brother, had left

England. John was embarrassed as a leader as far back as 1185 when Henry II sent him to Ireland to rule. John proved to be a disaster and within six months he was sent home.

- In 1199, Johns brother, Richard, died giving him leadership of England. John would rule England for 17 more years until 1216. - John signed the Magna Carta in 1215 one year before his death. - John died October 18th 1216 from sickness.

Clause 61 The Magna Carta also included a large section which is now called Clause

61.

It was a group of 25 barons who could, at any time, overrule the king if he had overused his privileges of the Charter.

If the barons found necessary, they were able to take away all his possessions including his castles.

King John accepted,

1. The English Church is free, and has it’s rights unlimited, and it’s liberties unimpaired.2. Nobles must be trialed before being imprisoned. 3. All Nobles have the right to fair taxation. 4. Everyone is given fairness in trials, and all of them must be in court. 5. The city of London shall enjoy all its ancient liberties and free customs, both by land

and by water.6. Crops are not allowed to be taken without being paid for.

To name a few.

Agreements

Modern Day Magna Carta

Most of the written laws from the Magna Carta’s have either been modified or completely changed, but the essential ideas have given the outline for modern day democracies.

The universal right to due process was first created in the Magna Carta, and is currently still in the English law books.

Looking at the document more than 500 years later, the U.S Constitution has incorporated many of their laws from the ideas of the Magna Carta.

The document was sealed in 1215, but the clauses in the charter were used through Middle Ages and into modern times.

Contained a total of 63 clauses.

In 1215, the term “free men” only included a quarter of the population, the rest were neither free nor male.

Even though John died in 1216, his son, Henry III was made king and confirmed the Magna Carta in his name.

Facts About the Document

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