The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, marked a pivotal moment in the development of legal rights and constitutional governance. It established the principle that everyone, including the monarchy, is subject to the law, which introduced the concept of due process. This charter laid the groundwork for future legal documents, including the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its legacy endures in modern democratic thought, as it emphasizes the importance of limiting governmental power and protecting individual liberties, thereby influencing centuries of governance and legal reforms.