Year 7 - History
King John and the causes of Magna Carta
Magna Carta: how did Magna Carta survive?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the causes of the Magna Carta, its reissue and its continued importance in the development of the first parliaments. At the same time, pupils analyse how and why the principles of the Magna Carta survived.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain why many consider John to be the model of a bad king.
Key Notes
- Many consider John to be the model of a bad king with a reputation for untrustworthiness and greed.
- King John raised unpopular taxes which caused anger amongst the English barons.
- King John had a reputation for avoiding battle and was known as 'Softsword'.
- King John was said to have killed his nephew.
- King John lost a third of his lands, including his family's ancestral homelands.
Vocabulary To Learn
- crusade: a crusade is a military mission against a group considered by the Pope to be an enemy of the Church
- tax: tax is a compulsory payment to the government to cover various costs
- scutage: scutage was a tax paid by the barons when they were unable to send enough knights to fight for the king
- tallage: tallage was a tax charged by Norman and Angevin kings on their lands and towns
- ancestral: ancestral means relating to members of your family from the past
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- King John only ruled England.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Many consider John to be the model of a bad king with a reputation for untrustworthiness and greed. King John raised unpopular taxes which caused anger amongst the English barons.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'crusade'
a crusade is a military mission against a group considered by the Pope to be an enemy of the Church.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: King John only ruled England. Correction: King John inherited the Angevin Empire which stretched across England and France.
More Lessons In This Unit
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