Magna+Carta

__** The Magna Carta **__ Magna Carta is a Latin term meaning 'Great Charter'. The most famous of these is a legal document that was signed by King John at Runnymede in June 1215. The King was forced to sign it by a large group of rebel barons with whom he had been engaged in a civil war. The barons had come to resent the fact the King held absolute power in the land was forcing them to pay huge taxes to finance an expensive war against he French. Any baron who could not pay the tax demanded was severely punished.

Although the barons did not themselves have the power to make laws and decisions for the nation they were rich and powerful in their own right because they had been given land by the King. They became rich from the money paid to them in rent by the peasants who lived on their land. They were powerful because they had private armies of soldiers that they used to serve the king in wartime.

A group of rebel barons became dissatisfied with their situation and asked that the king listen to their complaints. The King ignored them so they decided to go against the king and force him to hear their story. It was not until they finally captured London that King John agreed to meet them at Runnymede, a meadow by the River Thames, to discuss their rights.

After a week of talks, John reluctantly agreed to sign a charter, or agreement, that outlined the rules that governed the amount of power the king and barons would share. This meeting ended the absolute power of the king of England. Later Charters formed the basis of government and English Law. The agreement abolished burdensome taxes and forced the king to declare;

"No free man shall be taken, or imprisoned, or deprived of his land, or outlawed, or exiled or in any other way destroyed, not shall we go against him or send him except by legal judgement of his peers or by the law of the land".

Unfortunately, King John soon went back on his work and civil war broke out again, However, he died the following year, 1216, and the Magna Carta did not become official until over eighty years later when, in 1297, it was made law by King Edward the first.

The Magna Carta is an important Historical document because it has come to symbolize freedom for many people. Although the Magna Carta was only the first step in the long Journey towards democracy in Britain (extending over 700 years), many see it as the first declaration of the rights of the common people against the absolute power of the king. It is regarded by the British (and other countries, including Australia, that have adopted British laws) as their chief defence against unjust rule and the abuse of power.


 * Your Task**


 * How well did you understand?**


 * 1) Carefully read the information about the Magna Carta and make notes on the important details**


 * 2) What principle did the Magna Carta Establish**


 * 3) Why did the Barons rebel against King John?**


 * 4) Why was the Magna Carta significant development for rights and freedoms?**