Conflict and the Magna Carta

• 1066 a man named William, Duke of Normandy landed in England to challenge the throne

• William descended from Viking Raiders called Northmen or Normans

• He fought for control of England after a weak King Edward died

• On Christmas Day 1066 he was crowned King of England

• The Norman Conquest changed England

• Many nobles were killed in battle and William gave their lands to nobles from Normandy

• King William introduced a strong feudal system

• Everyone in the church and government now came from Norman descent.

• 1199 a new ruler became king of England, King John

• He was a descendent of William of Normandy

• By 1204 he had lost some land in the French area owned once by William

• To get the land back he needed to raise taxes to build an army

• His lords and barons did not like this

• By 1215, England's leaders had had enough of King John's high taxes and military failures

• The Barons forced him to sign a document that promised them certain rights.

• This document became known as the Magna Carta or Great Charter

• In the Magna Carta, King John agreed to recognize the rights of barons

• John had to promise not to collect taxes without the approval of a council of barons and churchmen

• He had to recognize the right of a trial by jury

• It made it clear that even the King had to abide by laws

• Over time the Magna Carta was extended to ordinary citizens

• The United States adopted something similar called the Bill of Rights

Changes after the Magna Carta is implemented

• Helped the English find more ways to limit the King's power

• Parliament was created - the highest law-making body Britian today.

• By the end of the Middle Ages the kings could make very few decisions without Parliament's approval.

• Judges were free of the King's control so trials would be fair.