Reaction Paper #2
Taewoo Park
Magna Carta Magna Carta refers to the Great Charter that established basis of English Common Law and constitutionalism. Magna Carta stemmed from disagreement between Pope Innocent III, King John of England and English Barons. During the 100 Years War, King John lost many battles, and as the result of the lose, King John brought the economy England to the bottom. Magna Carta was initially a feudal document that applied to the demand of the barons, which was to prevent King John from collecting absurd taxes. It was signed at Runnymede near Windsor Castle in 1215 after the clergies and feudal barons had occupied London. It forced King John to give up some of his powers and to proclaim certain liberties to the barons. However, Magna Carta became to be considered as the people’s authority to advocate their rights against the king’s absolute monarchy. The year of 12115 is remembered as one of the most inspiring year not only in Western history but in human history. At that time, Margna Carta had a significance of documentation of a compromise between a king and people. The check and balances occurred to follow the written agreement between them became one of the foundations of modern state. Being the first document forced onto a king, so to speak, Magna Carta was the source of constitutionalism. Besides, Magna Carta had an influence on Parliamentary system by affecting Petition of Rights and Bill of Rights. Many countries from Western civilization, such as England and the United States, practice constitutionalism, and many other countries with constitution borrowed the basic ideas from Magna Carta. For example, the right of Habeas Corpus persons, the right of the people who are deprived of their liberty to challenge through judicial inquiry the legality of their arrest or detention, is the most enduring legacy of Magna Carta. I have always thought that a king cannot govern his country by himself. There must be supporters