Journal Entry 5

This is King John

Dear Journal,
King John was an awful king.  He did whatever he wanted just to benefit himself, no matter how much it cost everyone else.  The only reason he is king is because his brother, King Richard the Lionheart, died.  Thankfully the Magna Carta is now limiting what King John can do.  His monarchy is getting weaker because he has to consult the nobles before doing things.  The government now has more checks and balances, and there is more of an idea of parliament.  The king can no longer tax without consent from the nobles.  The king is under the law, and he has to obey the law also.  The king can’t just do whatever he wants.  Before, it was rex lex, the king was above the law.  Now, it is lex rex, the law is above the king.

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The nobles can now keep their land and money and they have a say in what the king has to do, for example, deciding how to tax the people.  As for me, I am just a peasant.  I am not really impacted that much, but now since there are standard weights and measures, I know that I'm getting the right amount of some good for the fair amount of money.  And, if people ever tried to convict me of a crime, there is now habeas corpus.  That means that people can’t be jailed without a fair trial.

This wordle shows the different ideas of Magna Carta

The United States Constitution is one of the example of an enduring impact of the Magna Carta

I do believe our system government is getting better, though.  I think other people in the future will follow the magna carta as an example for the rights of the people in their country.  I think people will use it and honor it and thank the people who made it because it is a very good idea.  I believe the magna carta is the basis of a better, more equal government, so people will use it in the future.