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The Magna Carta

Why was it important?

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Introduction

The Magna Carta is one of the most celebrated documents in English history but later interpretations have tended to change its real importance in 1215. This document was not suppose to be a lasting declaration of legal principle.

It was a solution to a political crisis which primarily served the interests of the upper class by limiting the power of the king.

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Legacy

It was a document that served as a guarantee of basic rights.

It has been used as a model for citizen’s rights since it was created.

Example of documents based on the M.C.: The American Bill of Rights

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Why is the Magna Carta hard to read? The scribes who produced the Magna

Carta wrote in medieval Latin.

Here is the first clause:

In the first place we have granted to God. (English)

In primis concessisse Deo et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse. (Latin)

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What is the Magna Carta written on?

The Magna Carta was written on parchment, not on paper. Parchment was the normal writing material in England until the end of the Middle Ages.

It was made from sheepskin which was soaked in a bath of lime, then stretched on a frame to dry. When it was dry, the skin was scraped with a curved knife to produce a smooth writing surface for the scribes, who wrote their text with a quill pen.

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Why is there more than one Magna Carta?

There is no evidence that a single Magna Carta was written up and sealed when King John met the barons at Runnymede in 1215.

Many copies of the Magna Carta were sent out to bishops, sheriffs and other officials throughout the country.

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What does the Magna Carta mean?

'Magna Carta' means 'The Great Charter'.

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What does the Magna Carta say?

Despite what many people expect, Magna Carta includes very few statements of legal principle.

Most of the 63 clauses in the Magna Carta deal with feudal rights, customs and the administration of justice.

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How much of the Magna Carta is valid today?

Only three of the 63 clauses in the Magna Carta are still valid today.

These are the first clause guaranteeing the liberties of the English Church; the clause confirming the privileges of the city of London and other towns; and the most famous clause of all which states that no free man shall be imprisoned, dispossessed, outlawed or exiled without the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land.

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Why is the Magna Carta important?

The Magna Carta was the first example of an English king setting specific limits on royal power.

The Magna Carta tried to prevent the king from abusing his power and it made clear that the king was subject to the law, not above it.

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How does the Magna Carta relate to American Rights? The Magna Carta limited the powers of the

king. Eventually citizens started to demand rights

for themselves. Hundreds of years later, the M.C. was used as

an example for writers of the U.S. Constitution.

10 Amendments were added to the American Constitution. These became known as the Bill of Rights.

This guaranteed certain rights to all American citizens.