Essay Sample on the Magna Carta

Have you ever wondered how democracy started? The Magna Carta, an 800 year old document was the beginning point of Democracy. The Barons challenged King John’s Total Power to enforce human rights.

The Magna Carta was created as a result of the people in England believing they should have a say in how their country ran and the laws which affected them. In 1215, Around 40 rebellious Barons confronted King John (1166-1216) at Runnymede, a meadow by the River Thames. The Barons then forced King John to sign the Magna Carta which ensured the Barons their rights and put the law above The King.

After King John signed the Magna Carta, he still refused to accept and obey the laws it had stated. The Barons then rebelled causing a civil war to break out known as The First Baron’s War (1215 – 1217). The Barons took control over London with no competition as the citizens were busy at Mass. Upon entering, the barons captured all the king’s supporters that they found and stripped them of their belongings. King John died in October 1216 which ended the war on December 6 1216.

The original Magna Carta was written on parchment made out of dried sheepskin. This was the normal writing material of the middle ages. It was written in latin, the academic and official language of that time although old english was commonly spoken as most people didn’t know how to speak Latin. In Latin, Magna Carta means “Great Charter.”

The Magna Carta contained 63 clauses when it was agreed to. Some of the main points include, providing a free church, reforming law and justice and controlling the behaviour of royal officials. It also expressed that “No free man shall be imprisoned, deceased, outlawed, banished, or in any way destroyed, nor will we proceed against or prosecute him, except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land.” The Magna Carta has been revisited and edited multiple times but only 4 original documents remain. They are kept in the Lincoln Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral and 2 in The British Library. There are only 3 remaining clauses from The Magna Carta that remain in British Law today.

In conclusion, The Magna Carta was an agreement between The Barons and King John written on dried animal skin over 800 years ago that helped shape democracy and human rights. Interestingly, it was written in a language no longer used and caused a civil war known as the First Baron’s War.