Old English Documents

Magna Carta

• Year signed: 1215• Why was it created? –Disagreements between the Pope,

the King, and English Barons. They thought that the king was abusing his powers with heavy taxes and random rules.

• Habeas Corpus: a court order that mandates that a prisoner is brought before the court so that the court can determine if that person is being held lawfully….intent was to prevent unlawful imprisonment.

• How did the Magna Carta change the power of the king?–In theory, it limited the power of the

king.

• What is “Rule of Law”? No one is above the law. Government is based on clear and enforced laws.

• What is “limited government”? The government no longer had absolute power.

Petition of Right

• Year signed: 1628• Why was it created?–To limit the power of King

Charles I

Petition of Right

• No taxes without consent of Parliament• No quartering of the troops• No imprisonment with out cause –

reaffirming Habeas Corpus• No martial law in times of peace

English Bill of Rights

• Year Established: 1689• Why created? Following Civil War, created to

reaffirm Citizen’s rights and established Parliament’s power. William and Mary agreed to it.

English Bill of Rights• Freedom from royal interference with the law

• No taxation without representation• Right to petition monarch• Freedom from a peace-time standing army without

agreement from Parliament

• Right to have arms for defense• Right to elect members to Parliament• Freedom of Speech in Parliament

• Trial By Jury• Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment