Magna Carta

What was the Magna Carta?

The Magna Carta is a document signed by King John, containing 63 promises, which limited his power. It was the first major attempt to legally constrain the power of the king.

Why did King John sign the Magna Carta?

King John had little choice but to sign the Magna Carta. If he didn't, his barons would declare war and he would have no aid from the barons in the war against France.

What is the significance of the Magna Carta?

It is significant for four key reasons:

• ❖ The promises in the Magna Carta only applied to freemen and so did not affect the majority of the population, who were peasants. This is significant as it shows peasants still had very few rights.
• ❖ King John's son, Henry III, reissued the Magna Carta a number of times, promising to follow it.
• ❖ One clause, the right to a fair trial, still applies today.
• ❖ Many protests and documents have been inspired by the Magna Carta, such as the Chartist Movement and the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Where was the Magna Carta signed?

The Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede, near London.

When was the Magna Carta signed?

The Magna Carta was signed in 1215.

What promises are in the Magna Carta?

Four of the promises in the Magna Carta are:

• ❖ The creation of a group of 25 barons to monitor the king.
• ❖ To let the Church make its own appointments.
• ❖ The barons had to first agree to any taxes the king wanted to impose.
• ❖ No man could be imprisoned without a fair trial.

What war did the Magna Carta cause?

When King John ignored the Magna Carta it led to the First Barons' War.