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The Long Parliament is the name of the English Parliament called by Charles I, in 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It receives its name from the fact that it sat almost continuously during the English Civil War until 1660. The sole reason Charles reassembled Parliament was to ask it to pass finance bills, since the Bishops' Wars had bankrupted him. The Parliament was initially led by John Pym. In August 1641, it enacted legislation depriving Charles of the powers that he had assumed since his accession. The reforms were designed to negate the possibility of Charles ruling absolutely again. The parliament also freed those imprisoned by the Star Chamber. A Triennial Act was passed, requiring that no more than three years should elapse between sessions of Parliament.
The Long Parliament was also responsible for the impeachment and subsequent execution of the king's advisers, Archbishop William Laud and Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford. Without its royalist members, the Long Parliament continued to sit during the Civil War. This was because its dissolution was only possible with its own consent.
Divisions emerged between various factions, culminating in Pride's Purge of 1648, when, under the orders of Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell ( April 25, 1599 September 3, 1658) was an English military leader and politician. After leading the overthrow of the British monarchy he ruled England, Scotland and Ireland as Lord Protector from December 16, 1653 until his death, which i, Colonel PrideFor the recipient of the Victoria Cross see Thomas Pride (VC Thomas Pride (died October 23, 1658) was a parliamentarian general in the English Civil War, and best known as the instigator of " Pride's Purge". Pride is stated to have been brought up by the physically barred a Presbyterian majority of Parliament from taking their seats. In the wake of the ejections, the remnant, the Rump ParliamentThe Rump Parliament was the remnant of the Long Parliament, following Pride's Purge ( 1648). This parliament ordered the execution of Charles I, abolished the monarchy and House of Lords, and formed the Commonwealth of England ( 1649). The Rump was dissol, arranged for the trial and execution of Charles I. It was also responsible for the setting up of the Commonwealth of EnglandThe Commonwealth was the republican government which ruled first England and then the whole of Britain, Ireland, the colonies and other Crown possessions during the periods from 1649 (the monarch Charles I being beheaded on January 30 and "" being passed in 1649Events January 30 King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded. His widow Henrietta Maria resides in her native France. January 30 The Commonwealth of England, a republican form of government, replaces the monarchy as the form of government.
Oliver Cromwell forcibly disbanded the Rump Parliament in 1653Events February 2 New Amsterdam (later renamed New York City) is incorporated. April 20 Oliver Cromwell expels the Long Parliament May 24 Ferdinand IV is elected King of the Romans June 12 First Anglo-Dutch War: Battle of the Gabbard lasted until June 13. when it seemed they might disband his expensive army of 50,000 men. It was recalled after his son, Richard CromwellFor the American actor of the 1930s and 1940s, please see Richard Cromwell (actor Richard Cromwell ( October 4, 1626- July 12, 1712) was the third son of Oliver Cromwell, and was Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, for little over eight month, failed miserably as Lord Protector in 1659. The following year General George Monck reinstated the members 'secluded' by Pride. The Convention Parliament was prepared for, and the Long Parliament dissolved in March 16, 1660.
