The Magna Carta

1
The Magna Carta

• Why was it important?

2
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.

3
Legacy

• It was a document that served as a guarantee of
  basic rights.
• It has been used as a model for citizens rights
  since it was created.
• Example of documents based on the M.C. The
  American Bill of Rights

4
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)

5
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.

6
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.

7
What does the Magna Carta mean?

• 'Magna Carta' means 'The Great Charter'.

8
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.

9
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.

10
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.

11
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.