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In the 13th century monarchs had almost absolute power over their subjects. The kings were assumed to have a divine right to rule and the law was whatever he declared it to be. The only source of power higher was God and his representative the Pope. Religion, politics and power were, to all intents and purposes, a single entity. The monarchs and the Catholic Church needed the support of each other to keep their positions in society.

On June 15, 1215 about 40 barons confronted King John with a list of grievances, demanding redress. This is the list that became the Magna Carta (Great Charter). Several clauses in the list are incorporated into the constitutions of several countries including the US Constitution.

Notable clauses being what is now the Habeas Corpus act, (the right to be brought before a court or judge), not to sell, deny or delay right or justice, no official to take anyone’s chattels or corn unless payment is made and set a standard measure for corn, wine and ale.


King John was aware he was in a poor position, several countries were aware of the internal problems he faced and stood in the wings ready to pounce. John knew if he did not accede to the demands civil war was likely and his crown would be lost. On the advice of William Marshal and Hubert de Burgh to offer concessions he accepted the grievances without demur and placed his solemn seal on the document. The idea that he signed it is false. Almost immediately he went back on his word and by autumn England was plunged into civil strife John died in October 1216 and his nine year old son, became Henry III.

On November 12 a revised version of the document was read out as a royal declaration confirming the new king would govern according to the laws of England.

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8y ago
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14y ago

He did not agree willfully to sign the Magna Carta, he was forced by many of the moderates not in overt rebellion, to sign the "Articles of the Barons", to which his Great Seal was attached in the meadow at Runnymede on 15 June 1215.

also to grant more power to the people and lessen the power of the monarch also the document granted the citizens trial by jury and other privileges.

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15y ago

John did not wish to sign and obey the laws of the Magna Carta because they prevented him from: Doing many things he did to obtain easy money to fight pointless wars he always lost, from killing and abusing followers of the church and using Arbitrary Justice (to use the law to help your friends and send your enemies to jail, for example how described by Roger of Wendover in the passage from 'The Flowers of history' written in 1229 "The servants of a certain sheriff somewhere in Wales brought to the royal court a robber. He had robbed and murdered a priest. John said "He has killed an enemy of mine, let him go.")

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12y ago

At that time the King could not rule without the consent of the Barons. They enabled him to collect taxes, they also supplied the men for wars and had private armies of their own. King John meanwhile had no centralised army, had fought in unsuccessful wars, upset the power of the Church and the Barons and so the Barons managed to successfully rebel against him. He was seen as untrustworthy and acted like a dictator deciding that innocent men were guilty etc.. the Magna Carta is essentially a Bill of Rights that every free man is protected by the law of the land even from the King.

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11y ago

John was forced to sign the Magna Carta because he

needed the barons to cooperate and pay taxes.

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14y ago

It was because Kings had too much power. In 1215, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta. Now the Parliment was very strong and kings had little power

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11y ago

because king John was raising taxes and demanding more money for war at the expense of the people of England the barons had to relieve some of his power

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12y ago

They forced him, pretty much xD

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14y ago

England

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Q: Why did King John agree to sign the Magna Carta?
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