Jun 16, 2020
On this episode of the Resistance Library Podcast, Dan and Sam
discuss Magna Carta Day. Magna Carta Day, celebrated every year on
June 15th, is an important holiday to celebrate the origins of the
United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. This historic
document, drafted in the 13th century, inspired the Western
conception of individual liberties and checks on government
power.
A number of the rights codified in the Constitution’s Bill of
Rights find their origins in the Magna Carta. The charter was
drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury as a way to settle tensions
between the King of England and some of his barons.
The Magna Carta is the foundation of the Western conception of
individual liberties, particularly in the Anglosphere. It is also
one of the most mythologized documents in history. Still, many
today are unaware of its actual content and the historical context
in which it was drafted.
While much of the historical context is complex, the main point is
this: Under the rule of King John in the 13th century, several
barons were unhappy with the nebulous nature of rule and
administration. The Magna Carta was an attempt to codify the
procedures by which the King ruled over his subjects, in particular
the barons. The
“Great
Charter” was renewed by subsequent kings, though under
parliamentary rule, much of its main provisions were slowly
stripped away.
The dispute that led to the drafting of the Magna Carta revolved
around how a king was supposed to rule. It was believed at the time
that, while the king had unlimited powers, he should govern with
the counsel of his barons using custom as his guide. The Magna
Carta is an attempt to address what the rules are for when the king
is not ruling in this fashion.
Listen to learn more about this historic document and the history
of Magna Carta Day. You can also read Sam’s full article
“Magna
Carta Day: The Forgotten History of Magna Carta Day and What It
Commemorates” in Ammo.com’s Resistance Library.
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