The Magna Carta, or Great Charter, was an English charter drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury in response to demands by a group of barons who rebelled against King John. It was written in Latin and issued in 1215, during the reign of King John. It established the idea that even the king was subject to the law, and it limited the powers of the king. The Magna Carta was one of the first steps towards the development of constitutional government and limited monarchy.
Some of its key provisions included:
* The king could not raise taxes without the consent of the barons.
* The king could not imprison or punish anyone without a fair trial.
* The barons could rebel against the king if he violated the Magna Carta.
The Magna Carta was not a complete success. King John soon disregarded it, and it was not until the reign of Henry III that it was fully implemented. However, the Magna Carta had a lasting impact on the development of English and American law. It established the principle of due process of law, and it limited the powers of the monarchy. It also provided a model for the Constitution of the United States, which was drafted over 500 years later.