The Magna Carta

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The Magna CartaThe English Bill of Rights
Modified From http//middleages.pppst.com/rise-o
f-monarchies.html
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Could the rich control the king?
Around the picture below, you can read some of
the qualities which medieval people expected
their king to have! Which three are the most
important for a medieval king?
A good judge of character
Rich but not greedy!
A good soldier
Fit and strong
God fearing
Inspiring!
Brave
Hardworking
Wise
Firm but fair!
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Your enquiry!

• Medieval kings could get into serious trouble if
  they did not have the qualities of a KING! In
  the thirteenth century some barons forced an
  unpopular king to give up some power and it was
  only the beginning!! In this enquiry, you will
  find out how the richest people in the country
  began to challenge the king

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King John manages to upset everyone!!

• The first king to give up some of his power was
  John. He is famous as Prince John in make
  believe stories of Robin Hood. In the stories he
  is a wicked and foolish prince who taxes the
  people of England unfairly. Some historians say
  John was just as foolish in real life. Others
  say he was simply unlucky!
• John ruled England from 1199 to 1216. He faced
  the following problems.

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Problem Number 1

• He quarrelled with the Pope about how to run the
  Church. From 1208 until 1213, the Pope banned
  all church services in England and English people
  feared that they would all go to HELL! Some
  Church leaders blamed John for the trouble.

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Problem Number 2

• John went to war twice against the French king.
  His army was badly beaten both times. He lost
  almost all the land that his father had gained in
  France!

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Problem Number 3

• John raised taxes in England to pay for the wars.
  This upset his BARONS! He ordered them to pay
  far more tax than earlier kings had done!

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How did the barons strike back?

• In 1214 many barons rebelled against John. They
  believed that he could not rule the country
  properly and was treating them unfairly. If
  someone did not do something the whole country
  could be ruined!
• In 1215 the barons forced John to grant a
  charter, which was the first time anyone had
  expected an English king to obey a set of rules.

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1215 - The Magna Carta

• I, King John, accept that I have to govern
  according to the law.
• So I agree
• 1. Not to imprison nobles without trial
• 2. That trials must be in courts not held in
  secret by me
• 3. To have fair taxation for the nobles
• 4. To let freemen travel wherever they like
• 5. Not to interfere in Church matters
• 6. Not to seize crops without paying for them
• . and lot more things too!!

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The Magna Carta??

• The Charter later became known by the Latin name
  Magna Carta which means great charter.

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Think!

• What was so new about Magna Carta for English
  kings?
• At the time, Magna Carta was not designed to help
  everybody. What kind of people were not helped
  by the charter?

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Jump Forward a Few Hundred Years
1642

• The English Civil War pitted supporters of
  Charles I against the forces of Parliament, under
  Oliver Cromwell.
• Cromwells army defeated the forces of the king.
• Parliament put Charles on trial and condemned him
  to death as a tyrant, traitor, murderer, and
  public enemy.

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Out With the King

• After the execution of Charles I, the House of
  Commons abolished the monarchy, the House of
  Lords, and the official Church of England.
• It declared England a republic, known as the
  Commonwealth, under the leadership of Oliver
  Cromwell.
• This sent a clear signal that, in England, no
  ruler could claim absolute power and ignore the
  rule of law.

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So now whos the king?

• James II (remember, his daddy is the one they
  just executed) angered his subjects and clashed
  with Parliament.
• he tried to restore Catholic church and
  absolutism.
• Parliamentary leaders invited James sister Mary
  and her husband William to become rulers of
  England.
• When William and Mary landed in England, James II
  fled to France.
• This bloodless overthrow of a king became known
  as the Glorious Revolution.

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Can we trust them?

• Before they could be crowned, William and Mary
  had to accept the English Bill of Rights, which
  
• ensured superiority of Parliament over the
  monarchy.
• gave the House of Commons power of the purse.
• prohibited a monarch from interfering with
  Parliament.
• barred any Roman Catholic from sitting on the
  throne.
• restated the rights of English citizens.

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Think!

• How does the Bill of Rights differ from the Magna
  Carta?
• How is the English Bill of Rights similar to
  ours?