What was Magna Carta (1215)?

Magna Carta means 'Great Charter'. It was a list of rules that the barons forced King John to sign in 1215. There were 63 clauses (sections), including:

The right to a fair trial.
All new taxes had to be agreed by the barons.
Widows could not be forced to marry against their will.
A council of barons was appointed to ensure that the King stuck to the rules.

Why did the barons force John to sign Magna Carta?

King John upset the barons over many years:

He lost land in France in wars. John didn't even go to France to lead his army - earning him the nickname 'Softsword' and upsetting those barons who held land there.
He massively increased taxes (to pay for a new army). At one point he owned half the coins in England.
He quarrelled with the Church and was excommunicated by the Pope in 1209.
He raised another army to invade France, but his ally the German Emperor was defeated by the King of France at the Battle of Bouvines.

How significant was Magna Carta?

In the short-term, not very! John ignored it and so Civil War broke out within 3 months. However, it was the first real attempt to limit a monarch's power by law, challenging absolute monarchy. It was re-issued by his son (Henry III) and then future monarchs. Importantly, the charter only referred to the rights of the barons and of freemen - it was irrelevant for the great majority of English people.

Year 8 Power & Protest

King John and Magna Carta