3rd Parliament of Great Britain Facts for Kids

1st	25 November 1710 (1710-11-25) – 12 June 1711 (1711-06-12)
2nd	7 December 1711 (1711-12-07) – 21 June 1712 (1712-06-21)
3rd	9 April 1713 (1713-04-09) – 16 July 1713 (1713-07-16)

The 3rd Parliament of Great Britain was a group of elected officials who worked together to make laws for Great Britain. It was called into action by Queen Anne on September 27, 1710. The first meeting of this Parliament happened on November 25, 1710.

According to a law called the Triennial Act, this Parliament was supposed to last for three years. However, it ended a bit earlier, on August 8, 1713. During its time, many important decisions were made that shaped Great Britain.

How the Parliament Was Formed
- Why the Tories Won So Many Seats
- Meet the Speaker: William Bromley
Key Events During the Parliament's Sessions
Important Laws Passed
Parliament Comes to an End
See also

How the Parliament Was Formed

The new House of Commons had 558 members. Most of these members, 346 of them, belonged to the Tory party. There were also 196 Whigs and 14 other members. This was a huge win for the Tories, often called a "landslide" victory.

Why the Tories Won So Many Seats

The Tories won so many seats for a few main reasons. Many people were unhappy with the government at the time. There was also a growing feeling that the country should stop fighting in wars. Another reason was a public event involving Henry Sacheverell, who had criticized certain religious groups. This event made many people feel strongly against the current government.

Meet the Speaker: William Bromley

After the election, William Bromley, who represented Oxford University, was chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker is like the referee in a debate, making sure everyone follows the rules.

Key Events During the Parliament's Sessions

The 3rd Parliament of Great Britain had several important periods of work, called sessions. Each session focused on different issues and saw major political debates.

First Session: Setting the Stage

The first session began on November 25, 1710, and ended on June 12, 1711. This was when the new members got organized and started their work.

Second Session: Peace Talks and New Peers

The second session started on December 7, 1711. During this time, there were important discussions about making peace with France. The Whig party did not agree with the peace deal that was proposed.

To get the peace deal approved, a politician named Harley had a clever idea. He created 12 new members for the House of Lords, who were called "Harley's Dozen". These new members were loyal to Harley and helped him get enough votes. Harley then managed to get support for his plan to make peace alone, without waiting for other countries.

Third Session: Treaty and Party Splits

The third session was delayed until April 9, 1713. This delay happened because they were working on the final details of a very important agreement called the Treaty of Utrecht. This treaty officially ended a major war.

When the Parliament met again, there were disagreements within the Tory party itself. Viscount Bolingbroke, a high-ranking government official, tried to become the leader of the Tory party during this time.

Important Laws Passed

During its time, the 3rd Parliament passed many significant laws. These laws covered various aspects of life in Great Britain.

New Churches in London and Westminster Act 1710
Gaming Act 1710
Municipal Offices Act 1710
Toleration Act 1711 (also known as the Occasional Conformity Act)
Princess Sophia's Precedence Act 1711
Scottish Episcopalians Act 1711
Naturalization Act 1711
Church Patronage (Scotland) Act 1711
East India Company Act 1711
Pleading Act 1711
West Riding Inclosures Act 1712
Moss Troopers Act 1712
Established Church Act 1713 (also known as the Schism Act)
Simony Act 1713
Discovery of Longitude at Sea Act 1713

Parliament Comes to an End

The 3rd Parliament of Great Britain officially ended on August 8, 1713. After this, a new election would be held to choose the members for the next Parliament.

3rd Parliament of Great Britain facts for kids

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