What Does the Magna Carta Say?

The Magna Carta states among other things the free access to courts by everyone and the freedom of an innocent man until proven guilty through a legal system. It also states the position of the Catholic Church in England.

The Magna Carta required King John of England to proclaim certain liberties and accept that his will was not arbitrary a right which is still in existence today. Magna Carta is an English charter, initially issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date.

King John became involved in an expensive war in 1200 with France, and this forced him to introduce new taxes to pay for his army. This created a great deal of resentment in England. Barons rebelled when in 1215 John wanted to impose another tax to obtain a truce, and since he had no chance of victory, he was obliged to sign the Magna Carta, where he made a long list of promises including no new taxes without his barons’ support and a reduction in the power of his sheriffs.

Magna Carta's content is a preamble and 63 clauses. The clauses talk about church, feudal law, reforms of law, behaviour of governmental officials and royal forests.