The Magna Carta, signed in 1215 after the Barons' Rebellion, was a pivotal document in English legal and political history. This foundational charter established the principle that everyone, including the monarchy, is subject to the law. It was intended to limit King John’s arbitrary powers and provide certain legal rights to his subjects, particularly the barons. The Magna Carta is often regarded as an early step towards constitutional governance and the development of democratic principles, influencing later legal systems and documents, such as the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.