The Magna Carta

By: Meghan, Peyton, and Emily

• In 1205 King John fought with the pope about whom should become archbishop of Canterbury. • King John issued harsh taxes over

England in 1212.• King John fought with the Barons

over his methods of ruling over England.• The Barons captured London in

May of 1215.

What Events Caused the Magna Carta?

• List of rights that no one had the power to take away from the nobles

• A collection of 37 English laws• Some of the laws were copied, others were

new• Written on parchment and affixed with King

John’s seal• Became the basis for English citizen’s

rights• Set out the rights, obligations, and duties of

the English monarchy, church, and nobility

What is the Magna Carta?

• To curb the King and make him govern by the old English laws that had come before the Normans arrived

• Demonstrated that the power of the King could be limited by a written grant

• Greatly reduced the King’s power and allowed for the formation of a powerful parliament

What was the Purpose of the Magna Carta?

Who Wrote and Signed the Magna

Carta?• On June 10th, 1215 in Runnemede, King John Lackland of England signed the Magna Carta, which was originally called the ‘Articles of the Barons’.• The content of the Magna Carta was drafted by Archbishop Stephen Langton and the most powerful barons of England.• Copies of the Magna Carta were distributed to bishops, sheriffs, and other important people throughout England.

Archbishop Stephen Langton

King John of England

Sources•http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/magna-carta.htm•http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta•http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/mcarta.html• Prentice Hall Civics • The Middle Ages By: Thomas Streissguth• Encyclopedia of The Middles Ages By: Andre Vauchez

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