Magna Carta

Introduction

Welcome: The Influence of the Magna Carta on the U.S. Constitution 

Description: What was the Magna Carta? What were the principles of individual rights that our forefathers came  with? Where and how did they originate? What aspects of the Magna Carta did the founding fathers write in the Constitution? 



Keywords: Magna Carta, Constitution, Bill of Rights 

On June 15, 1215, English barons rebelled against King John due to his taxation, military failures in France, and his abuse of royal privileges. This rebellion resulted in the Magna Carta, a charter defining the rights and privileges of the barons, reformed the judicial system, and guaranteed feudal rights. It abolished taxation by the Crown without the approval of the common council.  American colonists referred to this as "No taxation without representation".  Freedom of commerce as well as a system of standard measuring  and weights was enacted. Strict judicial procedural rules and penalties for felonies was standardized.  Evidence by credible witnesses, not rumor, were necessary for convictions of crimes. Trial by jury and due process were enacted.  

Task

Part One:      Prior to the Magna Carta, what was life like in Medieval England and what events led up to the nobles' revolt against King John?

Part Two:     What rights did the Magna Carta guarantee and to whom?

Part Three:  How did Parliamentarians in the 17th century interpret the Magna Carta and what did this mean for freemen?

Part Four:    How did the Magna Carta influence the United States Constitution?

 

Process

Part One:  What was life like in Medieval England and what events led up to the nobles' revolt against King John?



Use the following websites to research Medieval life:  Feudalism, work, and recreation



http://library.thinkquest.org/o4oct/01895 to research Medieval England 



http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Feudalism_and_Medieval_life.htm



Use the following  to learn about King John and the actions that led up to the nobles revolt:



http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Richard_the_Lionheart_and_King_John.htm 



http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/King_john.htm



http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon28.html





Part Two:  What rights did the Magna Carta guarantee and to whom?



Use the following website to read a translation of the Magna Carta:



http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/magna2.html



Go to the following link -  view the movie and take the quiz on the Magna Carta:



http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/magnacarta.preview.weml



Part Three:  How did Parliamentarians in the 17th Century interpret the Magna Carta for all citizens, not just the nobility?



Go to the following link and learn about Sir Edward Coke and parliamentarians:



http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Sir-Edward-Coke.htm



Part Four: How did the Magna Carta influence the United States Constitution?



Use the following link to explore what legal expectations colonists brought with them from England.



http://www.magnacarta.com/content/history



Go to the following link and read why our founding fathers chose the Magna Carta as a basis for the U.S. Constitution.



http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/legacy.html

https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/magna-carta





Go the the following link - view the two movies and take the quizzes on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights



http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/usconstitution



http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/billof rights



 

Evaluation

Students will identify three major reasons the nobles revolted against King John and why he was forced to accept the Magna Carta.



Students will evaluate the Magna Carta, it's subsequent modifications and interpretations, and it's influence upon the United States Constitution.  

Conclusion

The Magna Carta is a significant historical document which changed an absolute monarchy to one that respected the rights of others.  This document was changed through the years to include common people as well as nobles.  It is the basis of English common law.  Common law was brought to the American colonies and as British subjects, they expected that Common law would be applied to them as well, but learned that this was not true.  When the founding fathers were looking for a historical document upon which to base the Constitution, they chose the Magna Carta.  The Bill of Rights includes many of the rights guaranteed by the Magna Carta.  Many countries have been influenced by "the shot heard round the world" - the American colonists fight for independence.  Through it's many interpretations, including the United States Constitution, the Magna Carta remains a significant document for the rights of the individual versus the government.    

Teacher Page

Ohio Department of Education Standards:

Strand 18: World History 

Concept 1: Roles and systems of government 

18. With the decline of feudalism, consolidation of power resulted in the emergence of nation states.



Strand 6: World History

Concept 6: Feudalism and Transitions 

6. The Renaissance in Europe introduced revolutionary ideas, leading to cultural, scientific and social changes.