What happened in 1066?
William the conqueror set the tone: follows English law and tradition
What happened in 1154?
Henry II: follows English Law and traditions. Calls it Common Law
What happened in 1215?
King John (Henry's rebellious son): ignores the law and does whatever he wants.
How long did it take to build the English democracy?
Centuries
What was one of the first cornerstones?
The Magna Carta
What does the Magna Carta contain?
Contains some of our democratic principles related to justice, laws, and freedom from tyranny
Who used the magna carta as a model?
People who have fought for liberty and justice against tyrants
What has played a central role in the development of our democratic ideals?
British political traditions
Who was King John?
he was an absolute monarch (he was a tyrant), and he was arbitrary- he did not rule according to the law
Why did the Barons have serious grievances?
the king was trampling upon their rights
Who were the Barons rights granted by?
By William the Conqueror in 1066
Who did the barons make war on and where did they capture?
King John; London
Where did King John retreat?
Runnymede, which lies southwest of London
what did the Barons force King John to do at Runnymede?
They forced him to sign the Magna Carta
Where was the Magna Carta read?
In every church in england
What are the Seven Principles in the Magna Carta?
1. Limited Government
2. The Rule of Law
3. Balance of Power
4. Power of the Purse
5.Private property
6. Due Process
7. Judgement by Your Peers
What is Limited Government?
- The king cant do whatever he wants. People have rights
What is the rule of law?
-There was canon law (church laws)...
-There was feudal law (for the nobility)
-There was common law (past precedent)
-There was town law (for towns)
What is the Balance of Power?
-King must share power with barons. If not, Barons have the right to overthrow him
What is Power of the Purse?
-The king cant raise taxes without consent of Barons. Barons control all tax money
What is Private Property?
-King cant seize a man's property
How was the Magna Carta a symbol?
-It became a symbol of liberty
-Democracy in England took centuries to evolve
-this was the starting point
What is Due Process?
-The King cannot put you in prison and throw away the key.
-You cannot be deprived of your life, liberty, or property without due process.
-Habeas corpus: You are entitled to a hearing, so the judge can decide whether you should have been arrested.
-Then
What is Judgement by your peers?
-King cant be or choose the jury.
-You are entitled to a trial by jury. Jury must consist of your social exals
How was the Magna Carta the basis of the English Constitution?
-The Magna Carta is the first document in what is known as the English Constitution.
-When the barons fought to preserve their rights, this was the first constitutional struggle in English history.
Dont know how to put this into questions...
A constitution establishes the right and duties of government and its citizens.
-Like the feudal contract that established the rights and duties of the lord and vassal.
-When the lord broke the contract, the vassal was no longer bound to it.
What constitutional principle did the Magna Carta establish?
-When a King abused his power, something could be done. You could overthrow him.
How did the Magna Carta relate to Representative Government?
It was Englands first step towards Representative Government
What did the 25 Barons eventually become?
Parliament
What happened after the development of Representative Government?
From then on, no laws could be made (or taxes raised) without the consent of Parliament
What was the Magna Carta a model for?
Declaration of Independence (1776), U.S. Constitution
What did the Magna Carta do for the Legal System?
It shaped the English legal system by establishing the habeas corpus, every arrested man was entitled to a hearing before a judge, and every accused man was entitled to a trial by jury.
What happened by 1300?
The jury trial was universal throughout England