22 Facts About Long Parliament

Long Parliament was an English Parliament which lasted from 1640 until 1660.

Long Parliament intended it to pass financial bills, a step made necessary by the costs of the Bishops' Wars in Scotland.

Long Parliament sat from 1640 until 1648, when it was purged by the New Model Army.

Long Parliament later became a key moment in Whig histories of the seventeenth century.

American Whig historian Charles Wentworth Upham believed the Long Parliament comprised "a set of the greatest geniuses for government that the world ever saw embarked together in one common cause" and whose actions produced an effect, which, at the time, made their country the wonder and admiration of the world, and is still felt and exhibited far beyond the borders of that country, in the progress of reform, and the advancement of popular liberty.

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Long Parliament believed its republican principles made it a precursor to the American Revolutionary War.

Long Parliament was almost immediately presented with a series of "Root and Branch petitions".

The Triennial Acts required Long Parliament meet at least every three years, and if the King failed to issue proper summons, the members could assemble on their own.

Levying taxes without consent of Long Parliament was declared unlawful, including Ship money and forced loans, while the Star Chamber and High Commission courts abolished.

Long Parliament reneged on those made in the 1628 Petition of Right, and agreed terms with the Scots in 1639, while preparing another attack.

In 1645 Long Parliament reaffirmed its determination to fight the war to a finish.

In England, Long Parliament was struggling with the economic cost of the war, a poor 1646 harvest, and a recurrence of the plague.

Long Parliament was not party to the execution of Charles I, although Cromwell was.

Long Parliament was dressed in a suit of plain black; with grey worsted stockings.

Long Parliament took his seat; and appeared to be listening to the debate.

Nevertheless, Long Parliament was closed by military force until such time that the army and leaders of Long Parliament could effect a resolution.

Some Rump Long Parliament were opposed and refused to sit with the Secluded Members.

Trial given to Vane as to his own person, and defence of his own part played for the Long Parliament was a foregone conclusion.

Long Parliament was not given legal counsel ; and was left to conduct his own defence after years in prison.

Long Parliament began with the execution of Lord Stafford, and effectively ended with the execution of Henry Vane the Younger.

Republican theory is that the goal and aim of the Long Parliament was to institute a constitutional, balanced, and equally representative form of government along similar lines as were later accomplished in America by the American Revolution.

The republican theory suggests that the Long Parliament would have been successful in these necessary reforms except through the forceful intervention of Oliver Cromwell in removing the loyalists party, the unlawful execution of King Charles I, later dissolving the Rump Parliament; and finally the forceful dissolution of the reconvened Rump Parliament by Monck when less than a fourth of the required members were present.