Magna Carta Thesis

The Magna Carta was a treaty between King John II and the three great estates: the church, the aristocracy, and the newly rich created in 1215. The Magna Carta is a document of 63 provisions, each created for the benefit of English citizens and Parliament. This treaty paved the way for the advancements of human freedoms that are an essential component in modern democracy’s. The ideas within the Magna Carta inspire the writers of future democratic documents, such as the English Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution. The English Bill of Rights is a document created by the English parliament and signed by William and Mary in 1689. The signing of the English Bill of Rights by William and Mary granted them to become the new rulers

Provision 20 of the Magna Carta states that citizens should only be charged and punished in proportion to the severity of the offence. This provision later influences the English Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution. One of the main provisions in the English Bill of Rights is that “excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in criminal cases to elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of the subjects; And excessive fines have been imposed; And illegal and cruel punishments inflicted;” This fundamental principle included in both the Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights influences the founders of The United States of America to create the Eighth Amendment. The Eighth Amendment states “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” This Amendment to the United States Constitution ensures that citizens are receiving the appropriate and fair punishment in relation to the severity of the crime. This idea of receiving a fair punishment is a major belief in contemporary

This meant that England was not allowed to have a standing army and in time of war, were not allowed to house their troops in citizen’s homes. This provision of the English Bill of Rights inspired the United States Constitution. The Third Amendment of the Bill of Rights states that “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.” This means that the government is not authorized to forcefully house soldiers in citizen’s houses. This is a basic fundamental right of citizens in contemporary democracies.

Another major provision of the English Bill of Rights is “That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law;” This meant that Protestants were able to carry arms, in order to protect themselves. This provision inspired the United States Constitution. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution is the right to bear arms. Although the provision under the English Bill of Rights only permitted Protestants to bear arms, it influenced the idea of giving citizens the right to protect themselves and their