Magna Carta (1215)

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Hello,

Interesting debate! Let's look at the two questions more closely. I also attached two supporting articles.

RESPONSE:

1. Analyze what caused the Popular Rebellion and how the 1215 Magna Carta brought about a "balancing act" that ended the rebellion and promoted an ideal of feudal government.

King John's actions in France were a major cause of discontent in the realm, coupled with the growing controversy with the church. Let's look closer at these two reasons.

(1) Military Defeat in France: John's looses support of Barons and discontent arises in many areas

For example, in France, at the time of his King John's accession to the throne after Richard's death, there were no set rules to define the line of succession. King John, as Richard's younger brother, was crowned over Richard's nephew, Arthur of Brittany. However, Arthur still had a claim over the Anjou empire, so John needed the approval of the French king, Philip Augustus. To get it, John gave to Philip large tracts of the French-speaking Anjou territories. When John later married Isabella of Angoulême, her previous fiancé (Hugh IX of Lusignan, one of John's vassals) appealed to Philip, who then declared forfeit all of John's French lands, including the rich Normandy. Philip declared Arthur as the true ruler of the Anjou throne and invaded John's French holdings in mid-1202 to give it to him. John had to act to save face, but his eventual actions did not achieve this?he ended up killing Arthur in suspicious circumstances, thus losing the little support he had from his French barons. After the defeat of John's allies at the Battle of Bouvines, Philip retained all of John's northern French territories, including Normandy (although Aquitaine remained in English hands for a time). ...