The Magna Carta

          John, Henry's youngest son, became king of England, in 1199.  John made strong and powerful enemies by losing lots of land England owned in France.  John ignored the barons rights and taxed them harshly.  He also took huge amouts of money from the church.  Mad barons forced the king to go to a meeting at Runnymede, a meadow, on 1215.  They insisted that the king would put his seal on the Magna Carta.  The Magna Carta was an agreement between the king and the barons.  The king could still rule but had to go through some changes. 

          As an example, they made a new law called habeas corpes, that allowed an accused person a chance to go to court.  John also agreed that "no free man" could go to jail without the lawful judgement of his peers.  The Magna Carta protected the rights and privliges of a noble in many ways.  Later it took a stronger meaning as citizens of England call it one of the foundations of their rights and liberties.

~By Danny B.

~A picture of the Magna Carta Document

Sources

Bower, Bert and Lobdell, Jim. History Alive. Teachers Curriculum Institute P.O. box 50996 Palo Alto, Ca 94303, Teechers Curriculum Institute, 2005

You can find this image at www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/...