In the history of constitutional development in England, the Magna Carta primarily established and protected the rights of which group against arbitrary rule by the king?

Introduction / Context:
The Magna Carta is one of the most famous documents in the history of constitutional government. Sealed in England in the early thirteenth century, it placed limits on the power of the king and recognised certain rights. This question asks you to identify which group mainly benefited from the rights granted in the original Magna Carta, an important detail in world history and civics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The document mentioned is the Magna Carta.
• It was negotiated between the English king and a powerful group in the kingdom.
• We must identify which group gained formal rights and protections.
• Options include barons and nobles, the monarch, clergy, and peasants.

Concept / Approach:
The Magna Carta was agreed in 1215 between King John of England and a group of rebellious barons. The barons wanted protection from arbitrary taxation and punishment, and they forced the king to accept certain limits on his authority. While later generations came to see Magna Carta as a symbol of rights for all citizens, the original document mainly confirmed the feudal rights of barons and other nobles. It did not give full political rights to peasants or all common people at that time.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the context of the Magna Carta as a peace agreement between King John and his barons after a period of conflict. Step 2: Recognise that the charter contained clauses limiting the king ability to impose taxes and seize property without the consent of the barons. Step 3: Understand that many of these clauses specifically mentioned the rights and privileges of the barons, nobles, and the church, not the general population. Step 4: Observe that the king did not gain new rights from this charter; instead, his powers were restricted. Step 5: Note that peasants and landless labourers remained largely outside these early formal protections. Step 6: Therefore, the Magna Carta primarily established and protected the rights of English barons and nobles.

Verification / Alternative check:
History texts often describe the Magna Carta as a feudal document designed to settle disputes between the king and his leading nobles. It promised that the king would not levy certain taxes without the consent of his council of barons and that free men would have the right to a fair trial. Over time, later legal and political thinkers reinterpreted these principles as supporting broader ideas of rule of law and rights of citizens. However, in its immediate historical context, the direct beneficiaries were the barons and noble classes. This confirms that the group mentioned in the answer is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• The English monarch alone: The charter actually placed limits on the monarch rather than expanding royal rights.
• Roman Catholic clergy: The church did gain some protections, but the main negotiation was between the king and the barons, and the charter is most closely associated with baronial rights.
• Peasants and landless labourers: They did not receive comprehensive rights from the original Magna Carta; wider popular rights developed much later.

Common Pitfalls:
Because the Magna Carta is often called a milestone in the development of democracy, some learners assume that it immediately granted equal rights to all citizens. This leads to the mistaken belief that peasants or all common people were the primary beneficiaries. To avoid this confusion, remember that the original document was a feudal charter mainly protecting the interests of English barons and nobles, even though its long term symbolic influence extends much further.

Final Answer:
The Magna Carta primarily established the rights of English barons and nobles against arbitrary royal power.