Founding1215
Magna Carta Sealed
King John of England sealed the Magna Carta at Runnymede, establishing for the first time the principle that the king was subject to the law. Though an English document, its principles of due process, habeas corpus, and limited government profoundly influenced the American founders.
Why It Matters
The Magna Carta's principles of due process and limited government became cornerstones of American constitutional law, directly informing the Bill of Rights and the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.