Background InformationWilliam the Conqueror

Norman (in France) who claimed the throne of England

October 14, 1066 is the last time England was invaded successfully at the Battle of Hastings

CLAIMS ALL OF ENGLAND AS HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY.

Background InformationHenry II

Introduces use of the jury in English courts

Creates a unified system of law "common" to the country

English English Common LawCommon Law

A system of law "common" to the country through or over time based from the people’s customs.

Background InformationJohn

John took the throne in 1199 A.D.

Cruel, ignorant, and unpopular king

King John King John angered his barons by:

Raising taxesTaking money for wars (which he kept losing)

Arguing with the Pope and trying to take control over Church decisions

Threw people in jail for no good reason

King John

barons/nobles nobles look for a way to limit the kings’ powers and protect their own rights in return

Magna Carta

In 1215, at the meadow of Runnymede, a group of nobles and lords forced King John to approve a document they had written: Magna Carta

Magna Carta

Magna Carta means “Great Charter” and it focused on the rights of the nobles

King John signing Magna Carta

The Ideas and Effects of the Magna Carta

1. No imprisonment without a trial by jury *habeas corpus-“you have the

body”- meant that people could not be held in jail without a reason

[Due Process]2. Must consult lords before raising

taxes [power-of-the-purse]

The Ideas and Effects of the Magna Carta

3. Could not interfere with or limit the freedom of the church

4. Most importantly, the Magna Carta required that everyone- even the king- had to obey the law

[Rule of Law]

Changes after Magna Carta Conflicts still continued until (and

after) his death the following year The Magna Carta lived on inspiring

the English to find more ways to limit the king’s power

Changes after Magna Carta A council of nobles who advise the

king was created, which eventually developed into Parliament, the lawmaking body that governs England today

By the late Middle Ages, kings could do little without Parliaments support

Changes after Magna Carta

The Magna Carta was the source of many of the important ideas

contained in founding documents of the United States

Magna Carta =>

Declaration of Independence =>

Bill of Rights