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Primary sourceDocument1915

Magna Carta 1215, Source Problems in English History appendix

1915

A 1915 edition of the full 1215 charter text, printed with teaching notes for classroom source study.

This 1915 edition presents the Magna Carta's own text for direct classroom study.

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About this source

What it is

This is the full text of the 1215 Magna Carta, printed as an appendix to a 1915 book called Source Problems in English History. The translation draws on the Latin text established by the historian McKechnie.

Why it matters

Magna Carta was the charter King John agreed to under pressure from his barons, setting limits on royal authority. Printing the whole document for students, with supporting apparatus, shows how historians in the early twentieth century wanted people to examine original sources directly rather than rely only on textbook summaries.

Look closer

  • Why would a history textbook include the complete text instead of just describing it?
  • What do the many named bishops, earls and officials suggest about who had power alongside the king?
  • How might reading the original clauses change your understanding compared with a summary?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Magna Carta on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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