Magna Carta

history · justice · government · England

King John's Problem. King John of England was deeply unpopular, and angry barons demanded he agree to protect their rights and limit his own power. The king reluctantly sealed the Magna Carta on June 15, 1215, to make peace.

Rules for Everyone. The Magna Carta promised that even the king had to follow the law, that people couldn't be locked up without a fair reason, and that justice should be swift and fair. It also limited how much money the king could demand from his nobles.

Who Made It. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Stephen Langton, drafted the Magna Carta to help both sides reach an agreement. It was sealed at Runnymede, a meadow near Windsor.

It Didn't Last. Neither the king nor the barons actually kept their promises, so the agreement fell apart quickly. Pope Innocent III even cancelled it, which led to war between the king and the barons.

A Huge Legacy. Although it failed at first, the Magna Carta became one of the most famous documents in history and inspired the idea that all people deserve justice and protection under the law.