Magna Carta

            The Magna Carta was created by King John on June 15, 1215. This document is considered the foundation for the democratic development. The intended audience was the rebellious barons, also called the Army of God and Holy Church. The document, which was written to pacify the barons on the field of Runnymede. The Great Charter gave written recognition to the concept that the monarch's power should be limited instead of an absolute power, meaning that no one is above the law.
             "That the English Church shall be free, and shall have her whole rights and her liberties inviolable" is a strong opening paragraph the meaning behind this is separating the church from the government. This is a very heated topic, that is still debated today, for example the use of prayer in public schools.
             Another key point of the Magna Carta is the benefits which heirs are entitled to. Such as care and protection of a property if an heir is underage, the rights of a widow to choose not to remarry and the rights of a wife to her dower. A dower is the wife right to her deceased husband property, since during this period women were not allowed to own property. .
             "If any free-man shall die intestate, his chattels shall be distributed but the hands of his nearest relations and friends, by the view of the Church, saving to every one the debts which the defunct owed." (Paragraph 27) The interesting thing about this paragraph is even in the 1200's there was documented intestate succession. .
             As previously mentioned many make comparisons to the US Constitution. For example in the Magna Carta there can be no seizure of food, wood, horses or carts without the consent of its owner. One might cite the fourth amendment of the US Constitution in which freedom is granted from illegal search and seizure.
             Another is Amendment six provides a speedy and public trial much as paragraph forty does in the Magna Carta. .
             Perhaps the Magna Carta was used as a resource to write the United States Constitution in addition to the Massachusetts Constitution, written by John Adams.