The Magna Carta

​Warm Up Activity

Think of an aspect of your daily school routine that you would like to change, no matter how minor. On a sticky note, create a "law" to address that change and put it on the large paper assigned to your class period on the board. (Example: Vending machine snacks should be 50 cents instead of 75 cents.) ​

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​The Magna Carta

By Ms. Blocker​

​Standards and Objective

​SS.912.W.2.16 Trace the growth and development of a national identity in the countries of England, France, and Spain

SS. 912. W. 2.18 Describe the developments in Medieval English legal and constitutional history and their importance​ to the rise of modern democratic institutions and procedures.

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By the end of class, ​students should be able to identify why the Magna Carta was created and what it entailed as well as how the Magna Carta influenced democracies today, particularly the U.S. Constitution.

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​Video:

https://youtu.be/7xo4tUMdAMw​

• ​Absolute Monarchy (the Monarch was above any local laws and their rulings were followed without question.)

• King John

  • Became King of England in 1199, ruled over England and territories in Western France claimed by his family

  • In 1204, the King of France regained control of Western France

  • King John significantly raised taxes to fund wars returning these territories, causing local barons to be malicious in their tax collection. If the barons could not pay, their estates would be taken.

  • King John ruled with fear, often holding people hostage and granting inhumane punishments.

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​Before the Magna Carta (King John)

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• ​No longer wanting to pay these high taxes, the barons renounced their loyalty to King John and rebelled (May 1215)

• On May 17, the barons overtook London, forcing the King to listen to their demands

• In June of 1215, the barons and the King met at Runnymede and drafted the Magna Carta

• After doing so, the barons declared peace and reinstated their allegiance to King John

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​The Rebellion and the Creation of the Magna Carta

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Multiple Choice

Why did King John raise taxes so much?

• To build a new castle in England

• To better serve the needs of his people

• To further expand his material wealth

• To fund war in hopes of regaining Western France

Multiple Choice

What led to King John agreeing to meet with the barons?

• The death of King John's son

• The barons overtaking London

• The French Army invading England

• Mass amounts of peasants dying from starvation

• ​While the Magna Carta mainly served as a peace treaty between the barons and King John, some clauses from the document were radical at the time and still apply today. These include:

  • Granting all free citizens the right to own property

  • No taxation without representation (no excessive taxation)

  • The right to a fair trial and due process under the law​

​Notable Clauses

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• ​Within just three months of its creation, Pope Innocent III nullified the Magna Carta, plunging England into Civil War.

• Despite its short life, the Magna Carta set the foundation for other countries to declare basic human rights.

• The U.S. Constitution

  • Many articles of the Constitutio​n were inspired by the Magna Carta, such as the freedom of the people, the right to a fair trial, fair taxation, and separation of the church and state.

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​After the Magna Carta

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT a notable clause of the Magna Carta?

• All free citizens can own property

• No taxation without representation

• All free citizens are exempt from taxation

• Due process under the law

Multiple Choice

How long did the Magna Carta exist before it was nullified by the Pope?

• Three months

• Three weeks

• 11 months

• 8 years

Open Ended

Ticket out the door: Briefly explain why the Magna Carta was created.

​: https://www.bl.uk/magna-carta    https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/originsofparliament/birthofparliament/overview/magnacarta/magnacartahow/   https://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/magna-carta-people-and-society https://www.humanrights.com/what-are-human-rights/brief-history/magna-carta.html

​Sources