Signed in 1215, the Magna Carta, Latin for “The Great Charter,” challenged royal rule by holding everyone, including the king, answerable to the law. The charter included 63 clauses in which English barons presented grievances regarding the rule of King John of England. By signing the document, King John and the barons forged a new relationship between the king and his subjects. One of the most important clauses granted free men the right to lawful judgment, including a fair trial, which would later influence the United States Bill of Rights.
