The Magna Carta, which is Latin for "Great Charter," is a document sealed by King John of England on June 15, 1215 (Magna Carta). The document contains a series of promises to his subjects that he would govern England and deal with his vassals according to the customs of feudal law (Magna Carta). The Magna Carta is an important doctrine because it affected the history of England and the beginning of democracy by guaranteeing basic rights to the barons, limiting the power of the monarchy so that he cannot do anything he wishes, and being a model for constitutions that would be created in the future. Over many centuries, these promises have required governments in England and in countries influenced by English tradition to follow the law in dealing with their citizens (Swindler).
             The beginning of the barons wanting rights started when King John of England used his English men and money to defend English territory within France (Holt). He lost many of his military campaigns, and as a result, King John demanded higher taxes and additional military service from his barons in order to continue fighting in France, but by 1204 he had lost all his possessions in northern France, including his family's ancestral lands in Normandy (Holt). Because of his defeats, King John raises taxes and asked for more services from his subjects without asking permission from the barons (Holt). This was a violation of feudal law and custom (Holt). In addition, he ruled them very harshly because he feared disloyalty from the English barons (Holt). He tried to recover his lands in France, but he failed disastrously (Holt). When John returned to England to collect even more money, many of the English barons revolted (Magna Carta). The rebel lords captured London but did not defeat John's forces completely (Holt). By the spring of 1215, it was a stalemate and the two sides began negotiations, but the barons of course had more power (...