Magna Carta 1215

Context

  • Signed in 12151215 by King John under baron pressure.

Core Principles Established

  • Rule of Law: Monarch and all subjects equally bound by law.

  • Due Process: Rights to fair trial, jury judgment, and legal procedures.

  • Power Sharing: Limits on royal authority; beginnings of shared governance and recognition of individual rights.

Long-Term Significance

  • Foundation for constitutional government, influencing later documents (e.g., English Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution).

  • Symbol of liberty and legal restraint on executive power.