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England Evolving Government . Standard 2.6 E.Q. How did England’s government change and adopt? . England Evolves . Over the next centuries, English kings tried to achieve two goals. Wanted to hold and add to their French lands.
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England Evolving Government Standard 2.6 E.Q. How did England’s government change and adopt?
England Evolves • Over the next centuries, English kings tried to achieve two goals. • Wanted to hold and add to their French lands. • Wanted to strengthen their own power over the nobles and the Church • William the Conqueror’s descendant owned land both in Normandy and in England. • Eleanor of Aquitaine in considered the most celebrated woman of the period.
Juries and Common Law • Henry II ruled England from 1154 to 1189. • Strengthened the royal circuit courts to justice by sending royal judges to every part of England at least once a year. • Collected taxes, settled lawsuits, and punished crimes. • Introduced the use of the jury in English courts. • Common law: Unified body of law by the royal judes.
Magna Carta • Henry was succeed first by son Richard the Lion – Hearted. • Richard died, his younger brother John took the throne. Ruled from 1199 to 1216. • Failed as a military leader. John lost Normandy and all his lands in northern France to the French under Philip Augustus.
Magna Carta • Most celebrated document in English History. • Drawn up by English nobles. • Guaranteed certain basic political rights. • Guaranteed no taxation without representation • Trail by Jury • Protection of the law. • Foundational document of England and later America.
Model Parliament • Edward I would also place another step in democratic government. • Needed to raise taxes for a war against the French, Welsh, and Scots. • Edward summoned two burgesses from every borough and two knights every country. • Over the next century, from 1300 to 1400, the king called the knights and burgesses whenever a new tax was needed.