The Magna CartaThe Magna CartaNathan WongNathan Wong

What is the Magna Carta?What is the Magna Carta? Originally created Originally created in 1215, the Magna in 1215, the Magna Carta was an Carta was an English document English document limiting the powers limiting the powers of the monarch. of the monarch.

It has significant It has significant influence in the influence in the governments, governments, constitutional constitutional documents, and documents, and common law of common law of today’s world.today’s world.

Before the Magna Carta…Before the Magna Carta… Before this historical Before this historical

document existed, kings document existed, kings lived a lavish, all-expenses-lived a lavish, all-expenses-paid life. paid life.

Their word was law and Their word was law and they could do whatever they they could do whatever they wanted – nobody dared to wanted – nobody dared to disagree with the monarch.disagree with the monarch.

Monarchs claimed that their Monarchs claimed that their power came from God – power came from God – after all, if God did not want after all, if God did not want them as king, why would them as king, why would they be king?they be king?

People in the Medieval Ages People in the Medieval Ages were deeply religious and were deeply religious and lived a life of religion. The lived a life of religion. The Church controlled much of Church controlled much of their lives.their lives.

I’m King, and I can

do whatever I

want!

The King The King waswas powerful… powerful… The Magna Carta, The Magna Carta,

written by King John’s written by King John’s barons, severely barons, severely limited the king’s limited the king’s power. For example, power. For example, the king could not tax the king could not tax unfairly nor punish a unfairly nor punish a freeman as he saw fit.freeman as he saw fit.

The king did not agree The king did not agree to it, but instead, was to it, but instead, was forced to stamp it with forced to stamp it with his seal.his seal.

What did King John do What did King John do to deserve this?to deserve this?

But not for long…

A peasant

He taxed his barons unfairly…He taxed his barons unfairly…

Darn it! That King John is just unfair.

Totally unfair. We won’t stand

for this!

Wow Johnny… you just took it

too far. This means war!

King John increased the taxes on his nobles, the barons. Forced to pay many times more taxes than the previous kings had charged, they became increasingly upset.

He argued with the Church…He argued with the Church…It MUST be done my way. I AM

KING!

King… you are out of your mind!

In medieval times, the Roman Catholic Church played an enormous role in peoples’ lives. Everybody followed the Church's rules as people feared that they would go to Hell if they did not!

As a result, Pope Innocent III excommunicated the king and banned religious services across England, which made the citizens extremely angry.

He kept losing wars…He kept losing wars…

John lost much English John lost much English territory in planned territory in planned attacks on attacks on neighboring France, neighboring France, while spending huge while spending huge amounts of tax money amounts of tax money on troops and on troops and supplies. supplies.

Obviously, his people Obviously, his people didn’t appreciate didn’t appreciate being on the losing being on the losing team!team!

John lost again? I’m

way overused…

And he was just plain MEAN.And he was just plain MEAN.Modern historians describe King John as having negative personality traits.

John was known to be cruel, and lacked qualities which people expected from a king. For example, he kept married noblewomen as mistresses!

King John is featured as a villain in the Robin Hood stories!

The barons decided to take action.The barons decided to take action.

With the support of each With the support of each other and many of the other and many of the English common folk, King English common folk, King John’s unhappy barons John’s unhappy barons launched a military launched a military expedition against King expedition against King John.John.

The people of London, The people of London, understanding of the rebel understanding of the rebel barons’ cause, opened the barons’ cause, opened the city’s gates to them and city’s gates to them and their forces.their forces.

John was taken by surprise John was taken by surprise and was forced to meet and was forced to meet the barons at Runnymede.the barons at Runnymede.

The king was coerced…The king was coerced…

The barons forced King John to agree to stamp The barons forced King John to agree to stamp his ‘Great Seal’, signifying his approval, on their his ‘Great Seal’, signifying his approval, on their document at Runnymede on the 15document at Runnymede on the 15thth of June, of June, 1215.1215.

What did this document outline?What did this document outline?

The Magna Carta stated that…The Magna Carta stated that… The Church was to be free The Church was to be free

from royal interferencefrom royal interference No additional taxes No additional taxes

except the regular feudal except the regular feudal due were to be levieddue were to be levied

All freemen had the right All freemen had the right to an open and fair trialto an open and fair trial

All measures and weights All measures and weights were to be kept standard were to be kept standard throughout the kingdomthroughout the kingdom

Democracy?Democracy? The Magna Carta also The Magna Carta also

included a final clause that included a final clause that created a council of lords created a council of lords and clergy which had the and clergy which had the power to overrule the king’s power to overrule the king’s decisions. This was an decisions. This was an outline for today’s “majority outline for today’s “majority rule”, even though it would rule”, even though it would have been an oligarchy, not have been an oligarchy, not a democracy.a democracy.

However, King John, with the However, King John, with the support of the Pope, support of the Pope, dismissed this clause, dismissed this clause, causing civil war.causing civil war.

The civil war ended with The civil war ended with John’s death in October John’s death in October 1216.1216.

However…However…

The Magna Carta The Magna Carta outlined rights and outlined rights and freedoms, but only for freedoms, but only for freemen. freemen.

It did NOT apply to It did NOT apply to women, slaves nor women, slaves nor peasants!peasants!

These people were These people were still at the bottom of still at the bottom of the food chain, at the the food chain, at the mercy of their owners.mercy of their owners.

SOLAME!

Importance of the Magna CartaImportance of the Magna Carta The Magna Carta is still The Magna Carta is still

relevant to today’s relevant to today’s world.world.

The Magna Carta The Magna Carta allowed for allowed for habeas habeas corpus,corpus, where one has where one has the right to a trial, the right to a trial, therefore preventing therefore preventing unlawful detainment.unlawful detainment.

The Magna Carta also The Magna Carta also placed limits on the King placed limits on the King and made him subject and made him subject to the law, much like to the law, much like our governments today.our governments today.

SummarySummary The Magna Carta is a legal document, which the English The Magna Carta is a legal document, which the English

King was forced to stamp in 1215King was forced to stamp in 1215 It limited the powers of the monarch and granted freemen It limited the powers of the monarch and granted freemen

certain rights, such as the right to a fair and open trialcertain rights, such as the right to a fair and open trial The Magna Carta serves as a basis for modern day The Magna Carta serves as a basis for modern day

governments, constitutional documents, and common law governments, constitutional documents, and common law today.today.

The EndThe End

Thanks for watching!Thanks for watching!

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"Magna Carta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." "Magna Carta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2011. 24 Sept. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta>. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta>.

"Magna Carta - New World Encyclopedia." "Magna Carta - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page - New World EncyclopediaInfo:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia. N.p., . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2011. n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2011. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia <http://www.newworldencyclopedia

"King John." "King John." History Learning SiteHistory Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2011. <http://www.historylearningsite 24 Sept. 2011. <http://www.historylearningsite