The Magna Carta placed the King under the rule of law, influenced the development of new governments throughout history and created the foundation for the United States Constitution.
Topic Sentence 1: The Barons of the 13th century needed a document that would put King John under the rule of law. King John wanted all power over his kingdom. Because of this selfish attitude, his barons insisted a charter would be written to protect their rights or they would declare war. “John (the youngest son of Henry …show more content…
“The lives of all the classes, rich and poor, were dominated by the feudal system” (Medieval). King John’s reign had many unsuccessful policies and heavy taxation demands. “At the death of his brother, Richard the Lionhearted, John assumed the throne of England, intent on exercising power to achieve his own selfish ends. To fund military campaigns in France, he extracted exorbitant fees from nobles, who, in turn raised the rents imposed on their tenants. At the same time, John reduced the lords’ customary powers over those tenants, restricting, for example, their power to hold court for those living on their feudal lands. He attempted to influence church elections and confiscated church properties, alienating the powerful ecclesiastical establishment and depriving the poor of the only source of relief available to paupers. He restricted trading privileges traditionally granted to London’s merchants and increased their taxes, alienating this constituency as well”