HBD to the Magna Carta

Back in thirteenth century England, there was rising tension between the dictator-like King John and the barons. First of all, John expelled monks in Canterbury, so the pope excommunicated. On top of that, barons were talking bad of him via Shakespeare since they were being suppressed; they could not celebrate mass, so many fled to neighboring countries. These countries conspired against England. Thus, King John was forced to surrender to the barons and the pope and signed the Magna Carta. During that time period, the Magna Carta was nothing special. In fact, it was a failure since no king in his right mind conformed to its terms of giving the barons right to seize all the king's possession if he broke any of the other laws. When John broke the Magna Carta's terms, French king Louis came to England under the support of the barons to take the throne. In the end, John died. His son Henry had a regent, William Marshal, who reissued the Charter to become the monarchy's most powerful weapon. Centuries later, the Magna Carta was once again revived by Edward Coke, a parliamentarian during the English Civil War. 

1. OMG what was the king's hostage doing to her son??!!??!

SHE WAS EATING HIM OMG EW!

2. At the time, what was England's relationship with its neighbors? Not very good at all; France, Wales, Scotland, and Rome all conspired to overthrow the monarchy in England. Also, King John alienated the papacy. 

3. Why did King John agree to the Magna Carta? He was faced with the threat of invasion by those countries in #2 because of all the baron's complaints and dissatisfaction.

4. What was the impact of the Magna Carta at the time? It was nothing new and pretty much a failure. 

5. How did later kings use the charter to their advantage? When John died, his son's regent William Marshal defeated the rebels by reissuing the Charter that turned it from weakening king into monarchy's most powerful weapon. 

6. How did Edward Coke revive the importance of the charter? He was a leader of the parliamentaries during the English Civil War and revived the charter by using it against King James I and as the basis of the Petition of Right. 

7. How did American colonial leaders use the Magna Carta? The colonists were inspired by Coke and valued the Magna Carta in creating their government. So, they used the Magna Carta as inspiration of the right of freedom during the American Revolution against Britain. 

8. Why is the Magna Carta more important to modern Americans     

than to the British? The constitutional framework of America is taken from the core concepts of the Magna Carta and is embedded in the perception of justice and law of Americans.