King John and the Magna Carta

• John I reigned from 1199 to 1216.
• John I was also called Lackland.
• He lost Normandy and English possessions leading to higher taxes to reclaim French territories in 1214.
• The barons rebelled because of this, demanding a charter to confirm their rights.
• John signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede on June 15, 1215.
• The Magna Carta is a milestone in English history.
• It contained 63 clauses.
• The clauses concerned justice, feudal obligations, taxation, and Church rights.
• The Magna Carta limited the King's power and guaranteed rights.
• Clause 39 guaranteed the right to a fair trial.
• Initially, the barons wanted protection from unjust taxes and to safeguard their privileges.
• Over time, the Magna Carta became the foundation for limiting absolute power.
• Winston Churchill noted that it established a law above the king.

From Simon de Montfort to the Model Parliament

• Henry III (1207-72) succeeded John.
• Henry was considered a weak king.
• Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, opposed Henry III.
• Montfort, with support from the clergy barons and citizens of London, defeated and imprisoned Henry III.
• Montfort then ruled for a year.
• He summoned a Parliament of two elected knights per county and two citizens per borough.
• Previously, Parliament was a feudal assembly of clergy and noblemen holding hereditary seats.
• Montfort added new members intending to call together representatives of supportive classes.
• This created an assembly including lords and townspeople.
• It led to the future Parliament with the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
• Members of the House of Commons were representatives of the burgher class.
• They were elected by people of the boroughs.
• Henry III was restored to the throne.
• Edward I (1239-1307) planned another war to recover French lands.
• He needed financial support from influential groups including merchants.
• In 1295, following Montfort's plan, Edward summoned two burgher class representatives from every town and two knights from every shire (county).
• These representatives were included in the Great Council.
• This Parliament was called the Model Parliament.
• Limiting the monarch's power took a further step.
• The principle of representation of common people was established.
• The House of Commons originated from this.

The Long 14th Century: Famine, Plague and Revolt

• The 14th century had economic and demographic crises in Europe and England.
• Famine struck in 1315 because of bad harvests.
• Widespread poverty resulted.
• Population growth stopped because of increased infant mortality and lowered conception rates.
• The Black Death, a bubonic plague from Asia, struck Britain in 1348.
• The Black Death was a major European catastrophe, killing one-third of Europe's population.
• Epidemics occurred in every decade afterwards until the 15th century.