Big Bad John

Big Bad John 1. The king may not collect taxes without the threatens to have all barons arrested and their The year is 1215. You are a noble baron permission of the Great Council of leaders beheaded living in England during the rule of King Barons. After several days, John agrees to sign the John. charter but says that he will not follow all of King John has acted like a tyrant. Many 2. The king cannot dream up new or special the rules. He asks the barons to delete some of the people view him as selfish, greedy, and taxes and begin collecting them without of the rules from the list. Meanwhile he has interested only in using his position to benefit the permission of the Great Council. received word that his army is approaching. If himself and his friends. Plentiful evidence the army arrives, you and the other barons will 3. The king cannot take anyone’s property confirms this view. The king has punished have to fight or surrender. without paying a fair price to the owner. people without allowing them a trial. He has Imagine that King John offers you a collected taxes from the poor and even 4. The king cannot take bribes (Payments compromise plan. He agrees to follow three ordered their properties sold to get tax money. from people so they can get what they of the rules immediately. He will think about He has levied heavy taxes on the barons that want from the king or get special favors three other rules that he might accept later. he dislikes and few taxes on his friends. He from him). Three of the nine he refuses to follow under has refused to ask his council of barons, the any circumstances. As barons, you can either Great Council, for permission to raise taxes. 5. The king cannot put people in prison or agree to his wishes or continue to demand that In every way, King John has acted as if he jail unless they have had a trial by jury all nine rules be accepted. If you wait any were above the law to get what he can’t get (peers) and been sentenced by the court. longer, you will run the risk of fighting the within the law. To make matters worse, he king’s army and losing all nine rules of the has selected people much like himself to carry 6. The king, like everyone else in England, Great Charter out his orders. has to obey the laws. Your group agrees to the king’s A large portion of the English population compromise plan. You also agree that if his is unhappy with the king. You and most of 7. The king cannot force people to go to war in another country. army does not show up, you will continue to the other barons have also become sick and demand that he agree to all nine rules. tired of the way he has acted. The feeling 8. The king must stop interfering in the To follow the king’s plan, your group among the population is that now is the time Church by telling the clergy, priests, and divides the rules into three groups: to prevent this king and all future ones from bishops what to do and say. 1. The three rules that the king must follow further abuse of royal power. and enforce fairly. These are the most You meet with a number of barons to 9. The king must stop granting special favors important for you and for all of England. determine the rules that the king must follow. and privileges to barons who like him Your group decides to force him to agree to while treating those who don’t like him 2. The three rules that are the least obey and enforce the list of rules. The main badly. important. These are the ones that the terms of the agreement are as follows: king refuses to follow or enforce. You As a group, you surrounded King John on a will delete them from the list to ensure The Magna Carta (Great Charter) field near Runnymede. He refused, and still that the first three rules are followed. refuses, to sign the agreement. He says that he After hard work and much debate, your group will not be forced to obey the law and that a 3. The three remaining rules, which the king has agreed upon the following nine rules. king can break the law whenever he likes. He has agreed to consider at a later time.