Final answer:
King John I had to write the Magna Carta due to the grievances of the English nobles. The Magna Carta codified due process and established that even the king was subject to the rule of law, protecting the rights of free men. This document laid the foundation for representative government and the protection of individual freedoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
King John I had to write the Magna Carta because of the grievances of the English nobles. The nobles were unhappy with King John's actions, such as raising court fees and inheritance taxes, to finance his war efforts to regain control over Normandy. In 1215, after months of negotiations, the nobles led a rebellion against the king, and as a result, King John agreed to address their demands by signing the Magna Carta.
The Magna Carta codified the principles of due process and established that even the king was subject to the rule of law. It protected the rights of free men, ensuring they could not be imprisoned or stripped of their rights or possessions except through a lawful judgment of their peers. This concept influenced future generations of Englishmen and laid the foundation for the development of representative government and the protection of individual freedoms.