The 800th Anniversary of the Signing of the Magna Carta
Who signed the Magna Carta?
King John of England
Contrary to the popular belief, the Magna Carta was not _.
signed
What did most of the clauses deal with?
specific grievances related to King John's rule
What kind of mistakes did the Magna Carta have?
spelling mistakes
Within what period of time, after being sealed, was the the Magna Carta rewritten?
ten years
What was the Magna Carta originally called?
the 'Articles of the Barons'
The version from what year actually became part of English law?
the 1297 version
In what time period was the Magna Carta being revised several times?
the 13th century
What is the most famous clause?
the 39th clause
What was acknowledged as the precursor to the Magna Carta?
the Coronation Charter
Who did Thomas Jefferson pay tribute to as an inspiration for the American Revolution?
the Levellers of the Putney Debates
What did Thomas Jefferson use the breaches of as retrospective justification for creating a brand new country in 1776?
the Magna Carta
During what in the English Civil War was the spirit of the Magna Carta evoked?
the Putney Debates
What did the Magna Carta enshrine?
the Rule of Law in English society
To what do the numbers 5 and 14 amendments of the US Constitution trace their lineage?
the death of the Divine Right of Kings
What idea did the Magna Carta establish?
the idea that everyone, including the king, was subject to the law
What did the 39th clause give all 'free men'?
the right to justice and a fair trial
Of whom were the Barons trying to protect the rights?
themselves and wealthy and powerful barons and knights
How many clauses out of the original 63 survive today?
three
Where were the copies of the Magna Carta sent?
throughout the kingdom and often to the great cathedrals of England
What did the Magna Carta pave the way for?
trial by jury
What country is a powerful guarantor of the Magna Carta principles?
India
What did the Magna Carta do?
It limited the power of the monarch and established human rights for everyone in England.
Who was in long term dispute with King John?
Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton
In what Article of the European Convection is the Magna Carta echoed?
Article 6
Where has the Magna Carta influenced constitutional thinking?
worldwide
What did Bishop William Stubbs say about the Magna Carta?
"the whole of the constitutional history of England is a commentary on this Charter"
What are some of the famous paintings that were exhibited at the Royal Holloway world-class art collection to celebrate the 800th anniversary?
'The Prince in the Tower' by Millais, 'The Railway Station' by William Powell Frith, and Edwin Long's 'The Babylonian Marriage Market'
What is India's population?
1.2 billion
In what year was King John born?
1199
In what year was the Magna Carta created?
1215
Up to how many copies of the Magna Carta were made?
13
During what year did the Putney Debates take place?
1647
In what year was Habeas Corpus passed?
1679
What are the central clauses usually referred to as?
38 and 39
Who ignored the Coronation Charter?
4 kings and almost one queen
At what age did King John die?
50
How many clauses were there in the original Magna Carta?
63
Who wrote the Magna Carta?
Archbishop Stephen Langton and the most powerful Barons of England
Who stood down from Parliament in order to fight a bi-election on the issue of 42-day detection in 2008? Did this person win or lose the argument?
David Davis MP/he won
Who is the curator of the Royal Holloway world-class art collection that was on display?
Dr. Laura MacCulloch
What did King John die of?
Dysentery
What did Lord Denning say about the Magna Carta in 1965?
He said it was "the greatest constitutional document of all times - the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot."
What did King John do instead of signing the Magna Carta?
He sealed it with the King's Seal.
What language is 'Magna Carta?'
Latin
Who was the most celebrated Judge of the 20th Century?
Lord Denning
Who was Habeas Corpus passed by?
Parliament
Where did the Barons set up camp in June 1215?
Runnymede
In what important American Documents were some of the concepts of the Magna Carta included?
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the bill of Rights
What does 'Magna Carta' translate to?
The Great Charter
What were the Barons trying to negotiate?
an agreement that later became the Magna Carta
Why did King john never live with the full consequences of the Magna Carta humiliation?
because Pope Innocent III had had annulled the Magna Carta, making it illegal and having it sealed under duress
What are the clauses that survive today?
clause 1: freedom of the Church of England, clause 13: autonomy for the city of London, and clause 39-40: due process and right to trial by jury
What would the Magna Carta never be because of how many people knew about it?
forgotten or denied
When did King John die?
in October of 1216
