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How Did The Magna Carta Affect The World

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Throughout much of history, from the dark ages, to modern day, Britain has been changing the world and and setting trends and standards for other countries to follow. Britain's decisions, leaders and ideals tend to affect the world around them in many ways. One major example of this comes from the British document known as the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta’s revolutionary ideas of equality, liberty and justice have not only impacted Britain, but have also affected the governments, documents and actions of numerous foreign countries including the United States. Before addressing its impact on Britain and the rest of the world, it's important to understand the history of the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta, otherwise known as the “Great Charter” …show more content…

After rising to the throne of england in1199 after the death of his father, King John faced almost immediate challenge and opposition. Within a year of his coronation he faced war with King Philip II of france who supported his nephew Arthur and attempted to set him on the throne of England. After the short bloody war King John quickly lost followers and support, in large part because of bis horrid treatment of prisoners and his likely murder of his nephew Arthur. After war broke out once again with france in 1206 John lost several key duchies, including normandy and anjou.(Magna Carta) After becoming the first english king to be excommunicated in 1208 by Pope Innocent II and a failed war with france in 1213 King John was broke and without allies. In an attempt to refill the British coffers King John attempted to force disloyal and uncooperative barons to pay a tax for failing to support him in his earlier military endeavors. Civil war followed shortly after this tax was implemented, led by the Baron Robert FitzWalter the barons captured London and forced King John to accept their …show more content…

This is no clearer than in the Magna Cartas country of origin. The Magna Carta provided the inspiration and legal basis for several key bills on rights and freedom in Britain. Both the Petition of Right (1628) and the Habeas Corpus Act (1679), two defining acts of british legislation, derived their power from the Magna Carta, most notably clauses 39 and 40. These acts fully extended the benefits of the Magna Carta to the common folk and helped guarantee additional rights on trials and and civil liberties (Magna Carta). However, this document wasn't just influential in Britain. The Magna Carta is widely regarded as the first constitution in Europe and is considered to be the foundation of Democracy in europe, but its effects reached even farther than its home continent. The Magna Carta was a large driving force in the United States bid for independence and heavily influenced the bill of rights. Many aspects of the Bill of Rights heavily mirror the Magna Carter “Nor shall any persons be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law”(Founding Fathers). This heavily and directly echoes the 39th Clause of the Magna Carta which is as follows “No free man is to be arrested, or imprisoned, or disseised, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any other way ruined, nor will we go against him or send against him,

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