1. THE MAGNA CARTA

2. Background On June 15, 1215, English barons rebelled against King John due to his stringent taxation, military failures in France, and his abuse of royal privileges. This rebellion resulted in the Magna Carta, a charter defining the rights and privileges of the barons, regularized the judicial system, and guaranteed feudal rights. It abolished taxation by the Crown without the approval of the common council. American colonists referred to this as "No taxation without representation". Strict judicial procedural rules and penalties for felonies was standardized. Evidence by credible witnesses, not rumor, were necessary for convictions of crimes. Trial by jury and due process were enacted.

3. Tasks Use the links provided on the next page to help you answer the following two questions. Students will then need to write their answers in paragraph form on their own papers. How did the Magna Carta influence the United States Constitution? What other countries have adapted the rights and privileges guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution?

4. Links Use the following link to explore what legal expectations colonists brought with them from England. http://www.magnacarta.com/content/history Go to the following link and read why our founding fathers chose the Magna Carta as a basis for the U.S. Constitution. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/legacy.html http://www.magnacarta.com/content/history http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/legacy.html Go to the following link and view the movie and take the quiz on the French Revolution. http://wwwbrainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/frenchrevolution Use the following links to explore the influences on the Canadian and Jamaican Constitutions. http://hubpages.com/hub/the-Magna-Carta-Throughout-History http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110508/focus/focus8.html http://wwwbrainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/frenchrevolution http://hubpages.com/hub/the-Magna-Carta-Throughout-History http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110508/focus/focus8.html

5. Conclusion The Magna Carta is a significant historical document which changed an absolute monarchy to one that respected the rights of others. This document was modified and re-interpreted through the years to include freemen as well as nobles. It is the basis of English common law. Common law was brought to the American colonies and as British subjects, they expected that Common law would be applied to them as well, but learned that this was not true. When the founding fathers were looking for a historical document upon which to base the Constitution, they chose the Magna Carta. The Bill of Rights includes many of the rights guaranteed by the Magna Carta. Many countries have been influenced by "the shot heard round the world" - the American colonists fight for independence. Through it's many interpretations, including the United States Constitution, the Magna Carta remains a significant document for the rights of the individual versus the government.