Idea Transcript
Magna Carta: the story of our Human Rights – Discussion guide and quiz (Secondary) Part 1 Before watching the programme Magna Carta: The story of our human rights:
Teacher notes Explain that you’re going to read out six multiple-choice questions in the form: what, if, why, who, how, where. Students should listen to the options and then vote A or B for each one. After voting, announce whether the majority were right or wrong and read out the sum-up sentence.
Quiz questions The correct answers are shown with underline. 1. What is Magna Carta? A: A document that supported the development of individual freedom B: A document that allowed peasants to own land Sum-up sentence: It is a document that established the idea of individual freedom and human rights under law. 2. If 2015 is the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, when was it written? A: 1115 B: 1215 Sum-up sentence: The first version was approved in 1215 — there were three subsequent versions, all of which were handwritten in Latin.
3. Why is it important? A: It allowed the barons and landowners more power over their peasantry B: It was the first time the power of the King had any limit put on it Sum-up sentence: It is very important because until Magna Carta was written, the King could imprison whoever he liked, or tax them very highly, just because he wanted to.
4. Who was Magna Carta for? A: All free men (barons, landowners and free peasantry) B: Royalty and the rich Sum-up sentence: The benefits of this charter were for all free men in England — this really meant men who had money and status, like barons, knights and landowners. Peasants who were not free (‘villeins’) did not benefit. 5. How does Magna Carta affect us today? A: It is seen as a foundation of liberty and democracy. It began the principle of equality under the rule of law, meaning that we are able to benefit from human rights B: It means we all pay taxes to ensure access to public services, like education and health Published by Discovery Education. © 2015. All rights reserved
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Sum-up sentence: It ensured that rulers in England could not be above the law.
6. Are any copies of the original Magna Carta in existence today? A: The age of the document means that there is one copy left in the British library, almost disintegrated B: There are four copies left in the UK, two in London at the British Library, one in Lincoln and one in Salisbury Sum-up sentence: We’re not sure how many copies were made originally, though we know there were several. They were made, sealed and distributed throughout the kingdom, together with a letter from the King.
Part 2 After watching the programme Magna Carta: The story of our human rights:
Teacher notes Explain that you’re going to read out some true/false statements based on the content of the programme – choose how many according to the time you have available. At the end you can wrap up by suggesting that students might like to create their own charter. True or false? 1. Henry III approved the Magna Carta of 1215. FALSE. King John approved the charter. King Henry III ruled from 1216, after the death of King John. 2. Magna Carta began as a peace treaty between King John and a group of barons who were rebelling against him. TRUE. It didn’t really work as a peace treaty, but it was the start of the framework that gave freedom to individuals under law. 3. Magna Carta was influential in forming the American Declaration of Independence. TRUE. The principle of freedom under the law came from Magna Carta and was very important to the American Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. 4. ‘Caged Bird’, the poem by Maya Angelou that we heard performed during the programme, encourages us to think about freedom. TRUE. Maya Angelou experienced extreme racism growing up, and this poem expresses the impact of not being free, and what it is like living in a society where equality and human rights are not respected. 5. The 1215 Magna Carta was the final version of the charter. FALSE. It was revised and released four times: in 1215, 1216, 1225 and 1297. The version from 1225 is the one that formed the basis of the 1297 document, which was brought into law.
Published by Discovery Education. © 2015. All rights reserved
www.discoveryeducation.co.uk
6. Arbitrary rule by a monarch (the monarch being allowed to govern as they wish) was something Magna Carta formed into law. FALSE. The introduction of Magna Carta meant that the power of the King or Queen was limited, and no one was above the law. 7. The 800th anniversary of Magna Carta is an opportunity to consider the value of human rights. TRUE. The rights we have as individuals began from the foundation stone of Magna Carta. The anniversary gives us an opportunity to reflect on the status and value of human rights around the world. 8. Magna Carta was referenced by both the Suffragette movement, which campaigned to improve the rights (including voting rights) of women, and by Nelson Mandela in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa (to ensure equality and justice for black people). TRUE. At the turn of the 20th century, women were not allowed to vote. The Suffragettes were instrumental in changing this. In 1973, the UN denounced apartheid, but it wasn’t until 1994 that the apartheid system officially ended, when the elections in South Africa led to a non-white majority government and the formation of a new constitution.
Trivia The copy of the 1297 Magna Carta that is today displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and which features in the programme, is owned by an American businessman who bought it at auction for £10.6 million.
Published by Discovery Education. © 2015. All rights reserved
www.discoveryeducation.co.uk