What was the main effect of the Magna Carta?

The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, is primarily recognized for its role in limiting the power of the monarchy. This foundational document arose from the tensions between King John of England and his barons, who were frustrated by his heavy taxation and arbitrary justice. By agreeing to the Magna Carta, King John accepted that his will could be bound by law, which was a significant shift away from the notion of absolute monarchy.

The key provisions of the Magna Carta established legal principles that included the right to a fair trial and protection from unlawful imprisonment, encapsulating the idea that even the king must abide by the law. This had lasting implications for the development of constitutional law and the rule of law in England, laying the groundwork for subsequent legal frameworks that further constrained royal authority.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the true impact of the Magna Carta. Rather than expanding the monarchy’s power or establishing feudalism, the document served to instill limits on the king’s authority, fostering an early form of legal protection for the subjects against royal overreach. While the British Parliament eventually emerged as a central governing body, that development was a later evolution influenced by the ideas set forth in the Magna Carta.