The Magna Carta

The Magna Carta is Latin for “Great Charter” and contained 63 demands. King John of England was forced to sign this document. They had to force him because it greatly reduced the power he held as the King of England and allowed for the formation of a powerful parliament. The Magna Carta became the basis for English citizen’s rights. Its purpose was to stop the King and make him govern by the old English laws that had existed before the Normans came. There were thirty-seven English Laws in the Magna Carta. The laws were both old and new. Some of the laws were copied while others were recollected. It is considered to be the beginning of constitutional government in England. Lawyers used the Magna Carts to limit the power of kings and queens later in English history. A lot of people believe that it was very important to the development of democracy in England and other English speaking countries like Canada.