790 views
25 votes
What did the Magna Carta do?

User Lita
by
4.0k points

2 Answers

7 votes

Final answer:

The Magna Carta was a document signed in 1215 that limited royal power and established important legal principles like due process and trial by jury, heavily influencing the development of Western legal systems and individual liberties.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Magna Carta, also known as the Great Charter, was a seminal document signed by King John of England in 1215. It established a set of legal precedents that limited the power of the monarchy and set forth principles of due process and trial by jury for the nobles. These provisions ensured that a free man could not be penalized unless there was a lawful judgment by his peers, thus planting the seeds for the Western judicial system that champions individual rights and a clear legal framework. Over time, the Magna Carta was recognized as a cornerstone of liberty, influencing the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and contributing to the social order that made England's GDP per capita one of the highest in Europe in the 14th century.

User Akky
by
4.1k points
0 votes
it was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law. it sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power, and placed limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself.
User Joane
by
3.6k points