5th Parliament of William III facts for kids
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The 5th Parliament of William III was an important group of lawmakers in England. King William III called for this Parliament to meet on 26 December 1700, and they gathered on 6 February 1701.
In this new Parliament, there were 249 members from the Tory party, 219 from the Whig party, and 45 others. This showed that the Tories had gained a lot of power. Robert Harley, a Tory member from Radnor, was chosen as the Speaker. The Speaker is like the leader of the House of Commons, who makes sure meetings run smoothly.
This Parliament faced two big challenges. One was about who would become the next ruler of England. This was a concern because Princess Anne's only living child had passed away. The other challenge was the risk of war with France.
Contents
Key Decisions and Laws
Choosing the Next Ruler
A new law, called the 'bill of settlement', was created to solve the problem of who would rule next. This law invited the Protestant House of Hanover family to take the English throne. This was a big step, and it also set new limits on the King's power. This important law was approved by 22 May 1701.
Dealing with Treaties
At first, Parliament agreed about a deal called the Second Partition Treaty. This agreement was made between Britain and other countries. It was meant to decide how the Spanish kingdom and its empire would be divided. This was necessary because King Carlos II of Spain had died on 1 November 1700 without any children to take his place.
However, Parliament soon found out that the King's special messenger, Lord Portland, had already finished the treaty without their knowledge or permission. Because of this, Lord Portland was put on trial by Parliament. Other important members, like Charles Montagu, the Earl of Orford, and John Somers, were also put on trial. But in the end, none of them were punished.
Views on War
The Tory party members were not keen on paying for another war with Spain at first. But by the end of this Parliament's time, their views had softened. The Whig party members strongly supported going to war. They convinced the King that another election was needed that same year.
So, this Parliament was officially ended on 11 November 1701. A new Parliament was then called to meet later that same month.
Important Laws Passed
- Act of Settlement 1701: This law decided who would inherit the throne of England.
- British Museum Act 1700: This law helped create the British Museum.
- Plate Assay Act 1700: This law was about checking the quality of precious metals.
See also
