June 15: Sealing of Magna Carta (1215)
Prayer Idea
Pray for government leaders to respect the rights of individuals.
History Note
Many monarchs throughout history have ruled with what they considered to be absolute power. They may have shown more or less concern for the needs of their subjects, but they essentially did whatever they wanted with no one to stop them.
Facing the threat of revolt from his barons, King John of England gave approval to a document later called Magna Carta on June 15, 1215. The document limited the authority of the king and granted protections to the church and to the barons.
Almost immediately King John recruited an army to fight against the barons, but he died the next year. Advisors to the new king, Henry III, reissued the charter in his name. Over the next few years, the ideas reflected in Magna Carta became more accepted in England.
Magna Carta provided a basic foundation that would influence future documents such as the English Bill of Rights, the United States Constitution, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The British government loaned a copy of the Magna Carta to the United States during the 1976 bicentennial celebrations of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Photo courtesy the Carl Albert Center / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0.
Learn More
This video shows some kids acting out the creation of the Magna Carta.
Find other resources at Homeschool History.
