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Power and the people Medieval world - Coggle Diagram
Power and the people
Medieval world
Magna Carta and the
first Barons war
Events
The Barons raised an army and threatened to go to war with John, and with Stephen Langton's help wrote Magna Carta. At Runnymede he had no choice but to sign the Great Charter (Magna Carta). The Magna Carta had 63 rules for John and future kings. "No freemen shall be arrested or imprisoned without a proper trial and according to the law of the land" - Habeas Corpus. John signed the Magna Carta to stop a civil war but when he went back on his word war was declared, The Barons took control of London, John won the siege 30th November 1215, However May 1216 French Prince Louis arrived and took control of England and John fled Southwest. When John died in 1216 the Barons decided they didn't want a French prince and instead made Johns son agree to the Magna Carta and crowned him King Henry.
Significance
In the short term the power of the king was limited by the Magna Carta but the King could still go against it if he wished with very little repercussions. Furthermore the Magna Carta had limited significance as it only affected the barons as they wrote it only looking out for themselves.
In the long term the Magna Carta became a base for future freedom and justice, it influenced the suffragettes and chartist movement and inspired the declaration of human rights and the bill of rights. Habeas Corpus is still a significant British law to this day.
Causes
King John was disliked as King as he gave out harsh taxes (scutage) and lost all of his land and his Barons land in France. He fell out with the pope of his appointment of Stephen Langton as the archbishop of Canterbury, the pope banned services in England making people think they were going to hell. John didn't listen to the Great Council and the Barons believed that they should be consulted on how the country is run whereas John believed in the divine right of the king.
Second Barons war
Events
Simon was furious and led the Barons to calling a great council in 1258 where Henry was required to sign the provisions of Oxford which gave the Barons more power and led to another civil war - the Second Barons War. there was two key battles:
The Battle of Lewes 1264, Simon DeMontfort won and they captured Henry and Imprisoned Edward. Simon briefly ruled England (as Lord Protector not King) and set up the Great council in 1265, he invited burgesses and knights from every county to represent their county in parliament. He's known as the father of democracy.
The Battle of Evesham August 1265 was won by Henry and Edward, Simon DeMontfort was chopped up and sent around the country as a warning to other rebels.
Henry ruled until 1272 and never called another meeting of the great council, but when Edward became King, He called the model Parliament in 1259 and Lords were invited to attend and the commoners elected.
Significance
In the short term despite Simon briefly ruling with a great council, Henry soon returned and and ruled without it until his death making it have little significance at the time, However after Henrys death Edward set up the Model Parliament which was based on the great council, and is considered the first democratic parliament.
In the long term Simon DeMontforts great council was not perfect but it was the first parliament made up of people from each county and influenced mans growth in power and the idea that men are equal and deserve equal representation.
Causes
Henry III was only 9 when he took the throne and the Barons made him agree to the Magna Carta but when he took full control in 1234 he started acting like his dad. He had close ties with the French due to his marriage and even let French men into parliament. Simon DeMontfort was a powerful Baron married to the kings sister Eleanor, he had lost land in war and was replaced by Henry with Henrys son Edward when fighting in France.
The Peasants
Revolt
Events
In 1831 the peasants began to Revolt, lead by Wat Tyler. The peasants reached London and murdered some of the Kings hated advisors Sudbury and Hales. The peasants were loyal to the King but hated his advisors. King Richard II (only a child) met the rebels at the mile end and was presented with a list of demands he promised to return the next day to talk, he was met with more demands. One of the Kings men stepped forward and murdered Wat Tyler, However fighting did not break out as Richard rode forward, agreed to their promises and addressed the peasants telling them to go home, "Will you shoot your King? I am your leader follow me!" the Peasants left London and went home. Richard did not keep his promises and the Rebel leaders were rounded up and hanged.
Significance
In the short term the revolt had some significance despite the peasants going home and the king going back on all his promises, the poll tax was never repeated, workers wages began to rise and because of this many were able to buy their own land. Gradually peasants became independent and in 100 years were freemen.
In the long term John Balls ideas that all men were created equal was revolutionary and influenced the American Declaration of Independence. This revolt was also significant because it was the first working class rebellion and marked the beginning of English ideas of freedom.
Causes
The Black Death (1347-1350) killed half of the population of Europe and poor people were affected more than the rich. Due to a shortage of workers, landowners were willing to give better pay and conditions in order to have employees and peasants moved in order to have this. To stop this the statue of labourers (1351) was put in place which meant peasants had to move back to their own village and stay there, working for pre-black death wages. By 1830 everyone over 15 had to pay the poll tax to fund the expensive 100years war.