The Magna Carta

The Magna Carta, or Great Charter, is a document created for the purpose of limiting the powers of the monarch and preserving the basic legal rights of all free men in England. This document was created firstly, to protect only the rich or upper class. The document was called a rebellion in 1215. A rebellion against King John of England. King John was a corrupt leader who did not agree with the Magna Carta. He pretty much made everyone angry under his power expect those who believed in absolute monarchy. On June 19th, a bill similar to the Bill of Rights was issued, the Magna Carta. Land owners and barons help create the Magna Carta. Originally, the bill was intended to protect only the rich and upper class. Many interpretations by leaders and politicians were created for years after the bill was designed. With each leader the Magna Carta slowly began to apply to more and more groups of people. Sir Edward Coke, a 17th century British Secretary of State, helped American colonists by applying them in the bill also. The American colonists believed the government was violating the basic rights granted to them in the charter. They were being taxed without representation. This led to the creation of the Declaration of Independence by the American colonists. Monarch in Britain was the center until the Magna Carta was established. Nobody could violate this bill, not even the royal family or the king. The Magna Carta set a turning point for democracies of today.