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The Magna Carta was the first document passed limiting the powers of the King, and is still in the Laws of England. It protected certain rights of individuals especially protecting against the arbitrary nature of punishments. http://www.thepolesworthschool.com/life/departments/history/Pictures%202010/King-John-Signing-The-Magna-Carta-Reluctantly.jpg
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The Petition of Right was a document drafted by English Parliament during the reign of Charles I. It professed grievances and laid down certain rights that the King must uphold, such as levying taxes without consent, no Martial Law during times of Peace, and upholding the Writ of Habeas Corpus. It signified the growing power of Parliament and the growing support of the people of England. http://www.parliament.uk/ImageVault/Images/id_963/ImageVaultHandler.aspx?~963~Petition%20of%20Right
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The aggravations of the people of England finally came to a head with the English Civil War- it signified the need for change, even if it took bloodshed to do it. during this time Charles I ws assanited as well, the central figure in the war.
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The trialad execution of Charles I showed that Parliamentdid have the power- to otrol what the King does, who the King is, the power to removehim fom his post and to hold him responsible for his actions and to kill the King (first regocide in history) http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/thisday/uploaded_images/execution-707583.jpg
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The Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 further limited the power of the King and his commissioners by writing into Law that they must respect the right the people have to not be held against their will or without proper legal authority. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/takingliberties/images/25habeascorpusactsmall.jpg
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The English Bill of Rights was a list of grievances that the people had with the King. The document, signed into law, guranteed more rights and liberties of the people and Parliament and further wekened the power of the King. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.parliament.uk/actofunion/lib/visuals/images/1_BillOfRights_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flurryofthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/04/englishmens-bill-of-rights.html&usg=__yWaF4tOFfByO4uVvSMyWkNZjaMk=&h=258&w=366&sz=28&hl=en&start=7&zoom=1&
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The Act settled the quetion of who would succeed the throne after the Restoration- given the context that it was created (following the English Civil War and conflicts between Parliament and James and Charles I)- it showed that Parliament had the power and were going to select the ruler that they thought would best reflect the will of the people and most importantly the agendas of the men in Parliament. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Sophie_von_der_Pfalz_als_Indianeri
