Magna Carta — Latin for "the Great Charter" — was sealed by King John on 15 June 1215 at Runnymede on the banks of the River Thames. The exam may ask you the year, the king and the location.
Why it was written
King John was deeply unpopular with his barons because of high taxes, military failure in France and disputes with the Pope. The barons forced him to seal a document that limited his powers and protected certain rights, including the right to a fair trial and the principle that no one — not even the king — was above the law.
Further reading: a related editorial guide on this topic opens in a new window for additional context.
What the charter actually said
Most of the 63 clauses dealt with feudal grievances of the time. Only a handful are still in force today, including the famous clause that "no free man shall be seized or imprisoned... except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land". This single sentence is the ancestor of jury trial and habeas corpus.
Long-term significance
Magna Carta is now treated as the first English document to assert that the monarch is bound by law. Its principles influenced later milestones including the Petition of Right (1628), the Bill of Rights (1689), the United States Constitution (1789) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). For citizenship candidates, it is the founding document of the British rule of law.
How it appears in the test
Common questions include: which year was Magna Carta sealed (1215)? Which king sealed it (John)? Where was it sealed (Runnymede)? What does it limit (the power of the monarch)? Be ready for any one of those phrasings.
Keep going
- Read the full study notes for British History.
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