Year 7 Term Three Prep Two
The Magna Carta
Complete this prep work if you were working at a level 2
Objective: To be able to use sources to describe different events from the past
(Knowledge level 3 skill, sources level 3 skill)
Task: Read and study the two historical sources below. Then complete the tasks at the bottom
on this page.
In 1215 England was ruled by King John. His older brother had been the famous Richard
Lionheart. Richard had lead successful crusades (a religious war) to gain control of the city of
Jerusalem in the Middle East. When Richard died his younger brother John became king of
England.
John was not a popular king. John knew that to be as successful as his brother he would have
to prove that he was a great warrior and could win battles. To show this John went to war
against France. The wars with France were expensive and to pay for them John raised taxes
which angered the Barons of England. Rumours had been begun to spread say that King John
had killed Arthur who was Richard Lionhearts son, by doing his John would have made sure he
was the next king of England.
By 1215 the Barons no longer supported King John and did not feel he listened to their
concerns of having to pay too much tax and fight in pointless wars against France. In 1215 the
Barons organised an army and marched to London, once there they took control of the city and
they challenged King John to meet them to negotiate (meaning to discuss and come to an
agreement) how to rule the country. As King John needed the Barons to organise his army he
was unable to build an army on his own. Therefore the king had no choice but to sit down and
agree to the demands the Barons made. King John signed the demands known as the Magna
Carta and in return the Barons promised to be loyal and to support the King.
Source A: The Magna Carta, signed on June 19th 1215 at Runnymede.
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No man can be imprisoned without a proper trial
All Merchants shall be free to buy and sell goods in England without paying extra taxes
The advice of the Barons in the Great Council will be taken before taxes are raised
The English Church will not be changed
ALL work should be in full sentences, using the wording of the question if you are to
progress to level 3.
Task: Copy and complete the following sentences using the information and the
source
1. John became king of England after his brother R____________ Lionheart
died.
2. John decided that to be a popular king he would go to war against F_______.
3. The Barons no longer supported John because he kept ordered T_______ to
be paid to cover the cost of the wars against France.
4. Why did King John have no choice but to sign the Magna Carta?
5. According to source A, who did the king have to meet with before he could
raise taxes again?
Challenge!
A) Create your own Magna Carta for Kingsdown school, you must have 5
points which you think should be school rules.
B) Research 4 additional points of the Magna Carta which have not been
covered above.
Recommended LRC star resource
“Medieval Realms” By John Nichol
and Simon Mason. Pages 30 to 33