Magna+Carta

**Brief Biography of the Magna Carta:**

The Magna Carta, also known as The Great Charter, was a document written by Barons. Due to King Johns repeat violations of feudal and common law, his Barons began to revolt. The Barons then forced King John to sign the document in 1215 at Runnymede. The Magna Carta was intended to protect the barons against the acts of the King, acts that were considered “heavy-handed and arbitrary” (McClenaghan 30). The rights that were included in the document were the right to a fair trial by jury with due process of the law and the “protection againt the arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property” (McClenaghan 30). These rights, before the Magna Carta were reserved only for the privileged classes in England. Though initially intended for the Barons, these rights have come to stand for all the English people. “The Magna Carta established the principle that the power of the monarchy was not absolute” (McClenaghan 30). It was respected only by some monarchs and ignored by others for over 400 years. In those 400 years the English Parliament gained influence The Magna Carta was incorporated to other documents throughout history. Most famous to the U.S.A. is the U.S. Declaration.

McClenaghan, William A.. //Magruder's American government//. 2002 ed. Needham, Mass.: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2002. Print.

Galpin, W. E. "Magna Carta." //Dictionary of American History//. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. 3rd ed. Vol. 5. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. 201. //Gale Virtual Reference Library//. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.

"To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay, right or justice." **Why** ** the ** **Magna Carta was important to the History of America.** **Why was the Magna Carta important to the history of America? The Magna Carta is considered the founding document of English liberties and hence American liberties. The influence of Magna Carta can be seen in the [|United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights]. Article 21 from the Declaration of Rights in the Maryland Constitution of 1776 reads:** // **"That no freeman ought to be taken, or imprisoned, or disseized of his freehold, liberties, or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any manner destroyed, or deprived of his life, liberty, or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land."** // **What was the purpose of the Magna Carta? The purpose of the Magna Carta was to curb the King and make him govern by the old English laws that had prevailed before the Normans came. The Magna Carta was a collection of 37 English laws - some copied, some recollected, some old and some new. The Magna Carta demonstrated that the power of the king could be limited by a written grant.**
 * **A document signed by an English King in 1215!**
 * Magna Carta was an important step in the history of taking power from the ruling class for the benefit of the governed.
 * What was the purpose of the Magna Carta? **

**Short Video:** media type="custom" key="22174656" **This video shows a more in depth background of the Magna Carta. It also shows connections between the Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution.**