Remembering the Magna Carta
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence, it is fitting to also reflect on the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta's signing. When President Donald Trump met with King Charles III at Windsor Castle, he was near Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 beside the Thames River.
The Magna Carta laid down the core principles that greatly influenced the foundation of the United States. The English colonists who established Jamestown and other settlements were well aware of these long-standing rights. They recognized how the Magna Carta imposed unprecedented limits on royal authority, acting as a safeguard against tyranny.
Key Chapters of the Magna Carta
- Chapter 39:
No free man shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised (property seized) or outlawed or exiled or in any way ruined … except by the lawful judgement of his peers or the law of the land.
- Chapter 40:
To no one will we sell, to no one will we deny or delay right or justice.
The Magna Carta firmly established that even the monarch must abide by the law.
As we celebrate both anniversaries, we should be grateful for this legacy of rights and freedoms—a legacy absent in many countries such as Russia and China. It is crucial to vigilantly protect and uphold these liberties for future generations.
East Tennessee State University
Author’s summary: The Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary reminds us of its vital role in shaping American liberties and the importance of safeguarding these rights amid global challenges.