1. English Beginnings
Please sit quietly and get out a Sheet of Notebook Paper for Notes and A pencil/pen

3. The year is 1215… King John of England wants to conquer France
New taxes
Forced his subjects to give him loans (that he never intended to pay back)
Made demands on the Church

4. The barons (leading nobles) have joined with Church leaders and England’s largest towns in an armed rebellion against the King.

5. Magna Carta
To end the rebellion, King John met with his unhappy barons on the field of Runnymede in John signed a charter of rights that he granted to his subjects, which became known as Magna Carta, or the “Great Charter”
(the original was written in Latin)

6. 63 Clauses promising rights
12. No scutage or aid (special taxes) shall be imposed on our kingdom, unless by common counsel of our kingdom…
12. Nullum scutagium vel auxilium ponatur in regno nostro, nisi per commune consilium regni nostri...
14. Et ad habendum commune consilium regni de auxilio assidendo aliter quam in tribus casibus predictis, vel de scutagio assidendo, summoneri faciemus archiepiscopos, episcopos, abbates, comites, et majores barones sigillatim per litteras nostras…
14. And for obtaining the common counsel of the kingdom…we will cause to be summoned the archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, and greater barons, severally by our letters…
39. Nullus liber homo capiatur, vel imprisonetur, aut disseisiatur, aut utlagetur, aut exuletur, aut aliquo modo destruatur, nec super eum ibimus, nec super eum mittemus, nisi per legale judicium parium suorum vel per legem terre.
39. No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned or [have his property taken] or exiled or in any way destroyed, nor will we go upon him nor send upon him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.
40. Nulli vendemus, nulli negabimus, aut differemus rectum aut justiciam.
40. To no one…will we refuse or delay, right or justice.

7. Rights
Magna Carta granted rights to all free Englishmen (not just the barons).
The king would not imprison or take away the property of his subjects without a trial by a jury of peers (equals) or according to the law of the land.
The king would not impose new taxes without the approval of a committee of 25 barons.
(There’s also a clause about fishing rights in the rivers.)

8. Parliament
Because of Magna Carta, English kings began calling together assemblies of nobles whenever they needed more money. They also began inviting representatives from counties and towns to participate. These assemblies became known as Parliaments.
To parley means “to talk”.

9. Parliament House of Commons House of Lords
English nobles (inherited titles)
House of Commons
Representatives from counties and towns

10. Question Time!
Please get out a blank sheet of paper and title it “English Beginnings”
You do not need to copy the questions, but you MUST answer in full sentences!

11. Questions Remember to answer in FULL SENTENCES!!!
1) Who wrote/signed Magna Carta?
“Magna Carta was written by….and signed by…”
2) When and where was Magna Carta written?
“Magna Carta was written in (place), in (year).”
3) Why was it written?
“Magna Carta was written because…”
4) What rights did the Magna Carta give to Englishmen?
“Magna Carta gave Englishmen the right to…”

12. A few more kings (and queens) agreed to respect the rights granted in Magna Carta
This guy really hated being told no!

13. Until this guy…
King Charles I REALLY didn’t like Magna Carta or Parliament
He believed in the “divine right of kings” (that he only had to answer to God, and no man)
Imposed new taxes and forced loans
Tried to rule without Parliament
Civil War , Parliament won
King Charles I lost his head (literally) in 1649

14. English Bill of Rights Read the “English Bill of Rights” handout
Answer the questions (in full sentences) on the same piece of paper you wrote on earlier