Magna Carta

This passage describes a very important document in England called the Magna Carta.

Lexile Level: 680L

Categories: History

The Magna Carta is Latin and means "the Great Charter." It was an agreement between King John of England and his medieval barons in 1215. The charter protects the rights of the barons and the English people. It gave freedom to the church. It also allowed the towns to follow their own customs. The charter was important in British history because it checked the powers of the king. For the first time, the king was not above the law. He had to follow the rules laid out in the charter. He could not do whatever he pleased. The Magna Carta is important in U.S. history too. The founders of the United States referred to it when they were writing the U.S. Constitution. The Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights both give the right to a trial. They do not allow for people to be killed or imprisoned without a fair judgment.