Download Explore More—The Magna Carta and Its Influence

Unit 7: Early Modern Europe (1450-1789)
Chapter 19: The Enlightenment
Explore More—The Magna Carta and Its
Influence on Our History
Directions: Listen to your teacher talk about the Magna Carta and its influence
on our history. You will learn how the principles of the Magna Carta were
embodied in documents such as the English Bill of Rights and the American
Declaration of Independence. Refer to the maps in your Explore Geography
Picture Dictionary to locate the places your teacher mentions. Circle any words
you don’t understand. Underline or highlight important ideas in the text. Write
notes in the margins to help you understand key points. Then answer the
questions in your own words.
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is an important treaty that King John of England signed in
1215. He didn’t sign it because he wanted to—he signed it because he didn’t
have any other choice. King John kept raising taxes, collecting more fines, and
losing battles. England’s nobility and church leaders decided to confront him. If
the king wanted their money and their support, they wanted some concessions
from him too.
Magna Carta means “great charter.” A charter is a written document that spells
out the conditions of an agreement. In the Magna Carta, King John agreed to
give nobles basic rights and privileges that the king could not take away. One of
the most important ideas in the Magna Carta was that the king must obey the
law. Other ideas suggested a person accused of a crime had to be treated fairly
and given a speedy trial. The Magna Carta also said that a free man could only
be put in prison after “legal judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.”
The Influence of the Magna Carta on
the English Bill of Rights
Over time, the rights and privileges contained in the Magna Carta were extended
to others in society. People in England began to see the Magna Carta as a
written statement of their liberties. It became the foundation of English law and
justice, which eventually were written down in the English Bill of Rights.
Continued on next page
© 2005, Ballard & Tighe, Publishers, a division of Educational IDEAS, Inc. From Explore World History.
Permission granted to reproduce for one classroom only.
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The English Bill of Rights limited the power of the monarch and gave Parliament
political power. Here are some of the important ideas in the English Bill of
Rights:
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Parliament would be responsible for making laws.
Parliament would meet regularly.
The monarch had to follow the laws.
The monarch could not keep a peace-time army.
Laws could not be suspended without Parliament’s approval.
Officials appointed by the monarch must be acceptable to Parliament.
The Influence of the Magna Carta on America’s
Declaration of Independence
The Magna Carta also had an important influence on America’s Declaration of
Independence. When the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765,
some American colonists said this was taxation without representation.
American colonists also said that men are created equal and have the right to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They did not think anyone was above
the law. They believed everyone was equal before the law. v
YOUR TURN!
Write your answers to the following questions.
1. What is the Magna Carta?
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2. How did ideas in the Magna Carta influence the English Bill of
Rights?
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© 2005, Ballard & Tighe, Publishers, a division of Educational IDEAS, Inc. From Explore World History.
Permission granted to reproduce for one classroom only.
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3. How did ideas in the Magna Carta influence America’s Declaration
of Independence?
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4. Place the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, and America’s
Declaration of Independence on the time line below:
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-0Questions for further discussion:
n Using your textbook, historical anthology, and the Explore Geography
Picture Dictionary, identify how major ideas and events are related to one
another in time. Create a map matrix or graphic organizer to show how
the ideas of the Magna Carta are related to the English Bill of Rights and
America’s Declaration of Independence. Discuss the information you
have arrayed.
n What would you like to know more about in terms of the Magna Carta, the
English Bill of Rights, or America’s Declaration of Independence? Frame
questions that you can answer by historical study and research. Conduct
this research and discuss your findings.
© 2005, Ballard & Tighe, Publishers, a division of Educational IDEAS, Inc. From Explore World History.
Permission granted to reproduce for one classroom only.
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