Magna Carta – the great charter of freedoms

Magna Carta actually means “the great charter of freedoms”. The agreement was signed on 15 July 1215 by King John of England. This document was not only revolutionary on paper, but laid the grounds for future protests against the monarchy and is an important symbol of liberty even today, and therefore represents a milestone in British and American democracy.

Kong John signerer Magna Carta

What is the Magna Carta?

The Magna Carta limited the king’s power for the first time in history. It created the principle that everyone is subject to the law – even the king. Provoked by high taxes forced by unpopular kings to finance expensive and disastrous wars against France, the Magna Carta mainly protected wealth and power for the British elite.

The 3,600-word-long contract contained three important parts that have helped to change British society:

  1. It guaranteed a fair legal trial for all people.
  2. It took away the right of the monarch to demand taxes as they wished.
  3. It made it clear that if the monarch did not follow the law of the Magna Carta, they could be removed.
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Magna Carta presentert til kong John av England
Magna Carta presentert til kong John av England

What is Magna Carta?

Kopi av Magna Carta
Kopi av Magna Carta

British conditions

Three of the 63 parts in Magna Carta are still part of UK law today: the liberties of the Church, the rights of the city of London and the right to a trial and jury.

American conditions

The rights of the free man against the tyranny of kings was written down in the Magna Carta. Not only did it give the American colonists good reason to rebel against George III and his highly unpopular taxation of the American Revolution, it also inspired the American people to write their own laws. Both the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the 1789 Bill of Rights are influenced by this early document and nine of the statements in the Bill of Rights are taken directly from the Magna Carta.

The United Nations

Principles from the Magna Carta are also reflected in the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

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Stortinget, Oslo, Norge
Stortinget, Oslo, Norge

Did you know that …

… the whole document was written as one text in Latin, but later editions divided the text into 63 clauses?

… the whole document was written only by one scribe who shortened some words to save space on the page?

 

… the Magna Carta was written in iron gall ink, made from tree gall (growth caused by fungi or bacteria), iron sulfate and water?

… the Magna Carta was written on parchment of dried sheepskin?

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Kong John signerer Magna Carta
Kong John signerer Magna Carta

Sources:

  • Ny vitenskap (2016)
    Orage Forlag AS

Media Rights:

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