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Secondary sourceArtifact1976

Magna Carta Replica

Architect of the Capitol · 1976

A gilded 1976 replica of Magna Carta given by the UK Parliament to the US Congress to mark the American Bicentennial.

This 1976 replica, a Bicentennial gift from the UK Parliament, shows Magna Carta's symbolic place in US-UK shared legal tradition.

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A gold presentation case with an ornate jeweled and gilded lid, open to reveal a parchment replica of the Magna Carta, displayed inside a glass vitrine on a stone plinth in front of a window.
Magna Carta Replica, 1976. Architect of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.

About this source

What it is

This is a replica of Magna Carta, made by the Architect of the Capitol and presented to the United States Congress by the UK Parliament in 1976. It is held in an ornate gilded and jewelled presentation case and displayed in a glass case at the Capitol.

Why it matters

The gift marks the American Bicentennial and reflects the idea that Magna Carta's principles of law and liberty are part of a shared heritage between Britain and the United States. It shows how a medieval charter continued to be used centuries later as a diplomatic and symbolic gesture between nations.

Look closer

  • Why might the UK Parliament choose to give the US Congress a replica of Magna Carta in 1976?
  • What does the lavish gold case suggest about how this gift was meant to be valued?
  • How is a replica different from an original document, and why might that matter?

This artifact 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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