What was the significance of the Magna Carta in 1215?

The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, is significant primarily because it limited the powers of the king. This pivotal document was a product of the tensions between King John of England and his barons, who were unhappy with his rule and the heavy taxes imposed upon them. The Magna Carta introduced the idea that the monarchy was not absolute and that the king was subject to the law, which was a revolutionary concept at the time.

By affirming certain rights, it laid the groundwork for the development of constitutional law. It established principles such as due process and the right to a fair trial, which have continued to influence legal systems and democratic governance in many countries. The document is often seen as a cornerstone in the evolution of representative government and has had lasting impacts on various constitutional documents that followed, including the United States Constitution and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

The other options reflect misunderstandings of the Magna Carta's role: it did not establish monarchy principles (as it aimed to limit the monarch's power), it did not declare independence from France (as that was not its focus), and it had no connection to trade unions, which were formed much later in history.