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The Magna Carta is a single document that outlines the origins of American freedom and equality. It was created in 1215 by British subjects who wanted to limit King John’s power and protect their rights. The Magna Carta inspired American democracy. Listen to this story to learn more about why it survived so many years and its special significance to Boston.
Story Length: 5:52
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January 26, 2016
5:14
New Hampshire’s primary election is coming up and a record turnout is anticipated. This will be the first presidential primary with the state’s new voter identification law in place. The law, which passed three and a half years ago, requires everyone voting to show a photo ID. Not all states have ID requirements. Election specialists say laws like this push voters away, as many voters may show up to vote without their ID. Others say it’s necessary to prevent voter fraud. Listen to this story about how the new laws might affect the upcoming primary election.
Read MoreNovember 12, 2015
5:53
The battles of Lexington and Concord started the Revolutionary War in 1775. Archaeologists have recently found 240 year old musket balls that were shot in the first battles of the Revolution. The Colonial and British musket balls are from the second battle at Minute Man Park in Lexington, where Captain Parker fought the British and caused them to retreat. With this discovery, people are broadening the area where they thought this battle took place. Although it’s hard to determine exact details, new technology helps archaeologists find out what happened at this site so long ago. Listen to hear more about what can be learned about the start of the American Revolution.
Read MoreApril 24, 2015
3:54
In Medieval England, King John was at war with a group of English Barons because he extracted money from them to fight a war with France. To appease the Barons, the King wrote the Magna Carta, which essentially says the King cannot arbitrarily collect taxes from Barons. This revolutionary document, signed in 1215, limited the power of the monarchy and outlined the basic principles of the modern judicial system. The Pope invalidated the document just ten weeks later, but its ideas have lived on and served as the basis of portions of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Listen to learn how the British library is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.
Read MoreMarch 26, 2015
5:00
In the U.S. all voters are required to cast their ballots in the district that’s been assigned to them by their state legislature. The state has the power to create and change legislative districts. In some states legislative districts look like jigsaw puzzles, created to increase the chance that the party in power remains in power. This process is called gerrymandering. Some states are fighting this practice by creating independent commissions to control redistricting. One case has risen to the U.S. Supreme court, where the constitutionality of independent commissions is being challenged.
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