POLI 130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Magna Carta, Rotten And Pocket Boroughs
Document Summary
Most people consider uk to be first modern nation state example for countries that followed. Uk: early, slow, and limited (transition to modern nation state) Early: 13th century in uk vs. 18th, 19th, 20th century elsewhere. Slow: many small steps vs. one big revolution. Gradually limited power of monarchy made it easier to live with monarch. Other places: stronger monarchies had to completely overthrow/kill monarchies. Monarchs and aristocrats always struggled for power. English barons forced king john to sign document that limited his power magna carta. Didn(cid:360)t like that he controlled succession, taxes, and religious leaders. First main example of formal limitations on the power of the monarchy in europe. Most notable limitation couldn(cid:360)t exercise own discretion when punishing people, had to rely on written law. Committee of barons that could meet and overrule king(cid:360)s decisions. Immediately revoked as soon as barons left london. Technically not the beginning/foundation of british democracy.
