Revisiting the Magna Carta

Remember the Magna Carta from school? If not, don't feel too bad about it because neither do 45% of UK residents according to the poll featured in today's British Library Press Release.

In a nutshell, the Magna Carta is an English legal document from 1215 that is viewed as one of the most important in the history of democracy. It played an invaluable role in the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. One of 4 copies from 1297 has been on display at the National Archives in Washington, DC for the past 20 years. All thanks to the generosity of H. Ross Perot. Then...he put it up for sale.

Fear not, it came back on display yesterday! That's thanks to the generosity of its new owner, David M. Rubenstein. Phew!

If you're not in the DC area, you're not out of luck. You can still look at the copy at the National Archives online here or at the New York Times' site here. The British Library also has some fun ways to view the original online. You can use the Library's Shockwave viewer, or a more simple online version here. Additionally, you can check out the translation here.

For more on the Magna Carta, check out "Magna Carta and Its American Legacy" at the National Archives site and "The Basics" on the British Library site.