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The Magna Carta is a pivotal document in the history of England that established the principle of limited government. Signed in 1215, it was created to address the grievances of the barons against King John. The Magna Carta laid down the foundation of constitutional governance, affirming that the monarchy was not absolute and that the king was subject to the law.

This charter introduced several key concepts, including the idea that individuals have rights that cannot be infringed upon by the government, thus placing checks on the power of the ruler. By establishing that even the king had to adhere to the law, it set a precedent for the development of legislative processes and the protection of individual liberties. These fundamental principles eventually influenced later democratic documents and constitutions both in England and around the world.