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Essay On Magna Carta

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The Magna Carta is ultimately a failed, over glorified legal document hurriedly pieced together by a small group of rebels who attempted to obstruct the monarch’s power. The principle behind it however, is a brilliant, striking beam of individualism, democracy, and liberty that encouraged, influenced, and enlightened America’s founding fathers on the principles of proper government and the concept of rebelling against unjust power. From the charter arises a question: who is the mother of democracy? Most historians would agree that the fundamentals of the democratic government came from Athens, Greece around 146 B.C., but ultimately this democracy was flawed and thus short-lived. While democracy was first seen in Ancient Greece it’s not …show more content…

Like all group projects the whole lot of the barons are credited with drafting the Magna Carta when in reality it was probably a lone writer. Historians strongly consider Stephen Langton of Canterbury as most likely to be the author. While the signing and enforcement of the document was a pivotal success for the people of England and democratic liberty it was an embarrassment and insult to the higher governing bodies who were losing power and influence at the most devastating rate in history. Just a few months after the charter was issued King John and the Pope worked to declare the Magna Carta illegal and lessen its’ legitimacy and strength throughout the entire Christendom. During this time the King was completely negligent to the new “laws” he had been forced to sign. The King simply thought it was ridiculous and resented that it lessened his power while Pope Innocent III spoke that “This (Magna Carta) has been forced from the King. It constitutes and insult to the Holy See, a serious weakening of the royal power, a disgrace to the English nation, a danger to all Christendom…” and so on. It wasn’t long until barons led rebels out of hiding and war broke out across the country. Those in favor of the Magna Carta fought to restore its strength by acquiring allies such as the king of Scotland and the king of France, but their efforts were cut short when King John died and his young son Henry III was anointed king. The barons were happy with

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