The Magna Carta

Question 1

When was the Magna Carta signed?

Answer 1

1215

Question 2

What were the events of the Siege of Rochester?

4 main points

Answer 2

• Barons occupied Rochester Castle to gain an advantage
• When using trebuchets and catapults failed, John sent for pick axes and 40 pigs
• The pigs were slaughtered and their fat was used to burn down wooden supports
• The Castle collapsed and John and his men stormed it

Question 3

What were the events of the First Barons War?

4 main points

Answer 3

• The barons held Rochester Castle, but John won a victory and sieged it successfully
• Prince Louis of France invaded, and John was forced to flee
• Louis was announced King in 1216, but not crowned
• After Johns death (of dysentery ), the barons decided against a a French king and crowned Johns son Henry instead

Question 4

What events lead to King John signing the Magna Carta?

4 main points

Answer 4

• Barons became fed up with King John
• They assembled an army under the leadership of Robert Fitzwalter
• John had no choice but to negotiate with them
• He met the barons at Runnymede to negotiate

Question 5

What were the 3 main clauses of the Magna Carta?

Answer 5

No scutage for barons, no freemen arrested without a proper trial, and a council of 25 barons monitor John to ensure he keeps to the Magna Carta

Question 6

What was the long term significance of the Magna Carta?

4 points

Answer 6

• A council of barons the King had to obey laid the foundations for parliament
• Habeas corpus is still part of British law
• Introduced the idea that Kings were not above the law
• Inspired the US Constitution and suffragettes / human rights declaration
• Not mentioned in Shakespeare’s play ‘King John’

Question 7

What triggered the First Barons’ War?

Answer 7

In August 1215, the Pope declared his support for John, saying the Magna Carta was invalid as he had been forced to sign it. John had used signing the Charter as a distraction to give him time to gather an army.

Question 8

Why did King John fall out with the Pope?

Answer 8

He refused to support the appointment of Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury

Question 9

What were the six main causes of the Magna Carta?

Answer 9

• Inheritance tax and Scutage
• John lost many battles (Bouvines), and therefore baron’s land, in France
• Pope banned church services
• Forest law

Question 10

What did the Pope do when he fell out with King John?

Answer 10

Banned all church services in England

Question 11

What was Forest Law?

Answer 11

John punished anyone who hunted in England’s forests without permission

Question 12

What was the short term significance of the Magna Carta?

5 points

Answer 12

• Nobody was imprisoned without trial
• Scutage ended
• Council of 25 barons watched John to ensure he stuck to the Magna Carta
• John ignored it after the Pope declared it invalid because he had been forced to sign it
• Peasants and women not included

Question 13

What were the key ideas of Magna Carta?

Answer 13

The King is not above the law
Everyone has the right to a fair trial (habeas corpus)