1. Magna carta

2. King John Angers the NobLes He became king of England in 1199. He quickly increased his wealth and power. He heavily taxed the citizens. He jailed his enemies unjustly without a trial. He seized Church property. He tried to block the pope’s choice for bishop of England.

3. The Magna Carta On June 15, 1215, two-thousand angry nobles gathered and presented King John with a list of demands. Called the Magna Carta, John was forced to sign the document limiting the power of the king. The Magna Carta created the “Great Council” of lords and clergy who were consulted before the king could make decisions. The Great Council eventually became the Parliament, a law making legislature and unified England into a nation.

4. King John signed (forced) the Magna Carta. This document: – Limited the power of the king/monarch Established that people have rights and the power of the government should be limited – Created a Great Council or Parliament The king could no longer collect taxes unless Parliament agreed Habeas corpus – could not imprison indefinitely without a trial