Thisseminar will examine the origins of Magna Carta in historical context, andstudy its influence and legacy in English and American law. The seminar will cover the underpinnings ofMagna Carta and analyze the contents of the “Great Charter,” before studyingits status as “fundamental” statutory law in early modern England, the role itplayed in conflicts between monarchy and Parliament, and its formativeinfluence on documents like the English Bill of Rights. We will proceed to analyze the significanceof Magna Carta in colonial and Revolutionary America, particularly in earlystate constitutions, the US Constitution and the development of federalism. Students will study English and American caselaw relevant to Magna Carta, and work with key historical sources in originalpublished form. A unique aspect of thecourse will be the integration of material from the Law Library’s Arthur C.Pulling Rare Books Collection.
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