2007-09-16 19:34:08 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Although Magna Carta has been much mythologised as the basis of English - and hence American - democracy, it really was very little to do with that. It was rather a document - an agreement or treaty - between King John and the very powerful Barons of the time. They both would be horrified to think that it gave any power or rights to the common people. Its real importance lies in the fact that for the first time it was acknowledged that the Kings of England ruled by consent and were not absolute monarchs, as they became in France. This led, eventually, to the Civil War between parliament and the King and then to the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 whereafter a Parliament elected less and then more democratically was paramount
2007-09-16 21:43:51 · answer #1 · answered by rdenig_male 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter", literally "Great Paper"), also called Magna Carta Libertatum ("Great Charter of Freedoms"), is an English charter originally issued in 1215. Magna Carta was the most significant early influence on the extensive historical process that led to the rule of constitutional law today. Magna Carta influenced many common law and other documents, such as the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, and is considered one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy." -- Wikipedia.com Article "Magna Carta"
2007-09-17 03:39:11 · answer #2 · answered by Jon 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋