Magna Carta: Birth of Constitution: #Constitution #magnacarta #democracy #law #England
England was going through a turmoil. Their ruler King John I was not considered a fit king.
Firstly, he raised the taxes unnecessarily on his people burdening them.
Instead of using these taxes for good of the people and to provide them with basic necessities, King John I spent it on his own luxuries.
Secondly, if people refused to pay the taxes, he either imprisoned them or killed them. Lastly, King John I was unnecessarily greedy in wanting to conquer the entire world.
However, when trying to do so, he in fact lost his land to King Phillip II of France. His people were tired with him.
The idea for dealing with King John I came from the nobles of England. They came up with a document that said that the law will be above the king himself.
It will be the law that will rule the kingdom and the king will have to follow this law. The king will not only follow this law, but he will also follow something called the due process of law. In due process of law, the king cannot imprison or kill anyone unnecessarily.
Everyone will get a chance to be heard, before they are given any punishment.
This document came to be called the Magna Carta. It was published and signed by King John I at Runnymede near Windsor in England on the 15 June 1215.
Today almost every constitution, which has real power and effect is based on the Magna Carta.
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