Convention Parliament (1660) facts for kids
The Convention Parliament was a special meeting of important people in England. It met from April 25, 1660, to December 29, 1660. This Parliament came after a long period when England was ruled without a king, known as the Commonwealth.
This Parliament was called a "free parliament." This meant that people elected to it did not have to promise loyalty to the Commonwealth or to the king. Most of the people elected were supporters of the king, known as Royalists.
King Charles II sent a special message called the Declaration of Breda. After receiving it, the Parliament announced on May 8 that Charles II had been the rightful king since his father, Charles I, died in January 1649. The Convention Parliament then got busy preparing for the king to return to power. This return is known as the Restoration Settlement. They had to figure out how to manage land and money for the new government.
Some people who had been in charge during the time without a king, under Oliver Cromwell, were not punished severely. This was thanks to a law called the Indemnity and Oblivion Act. This law became official on August 29, 1660. However, some people were still put on trial. These were the ones accused of being directly involved in the trial and death of King Charles I.
King Charles II ended the Convention Parliament on December 29, 1660. The next Parliament was chosen in May 1661. It was called the Cavalier Parliament. This new Parliament worked to undo or change all the laws and systems that had been put in place during the time without a king. It also confirmed the laws passed by the Convention Parliament.
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Laws Passed by the Convention Parliament
In official legal records, the Convention Parliament's laws are listed as being from the "12th year of King Charles II's rule." Here are some of the important laws they passed:
Laws About Money and Taxes
- Tunnage and Poundage Act: This law set very high customs duties (taxes on goods coming into the country). These taxes stayed mostly the same for a long time.
- Continuation of Excise Tax: This kept a tax on certain goods going until August 20, 1660, and then again until December 25, 1660.
- Poll Tax Establishment: A poll tax was created. This was a tax where everyone paid the same amount. It was used to pay off the soldiers of the New Model Army so they could go home.
- Money for Disbanding the Army: Several acts were passed to quickly get money. This money was used to pay off and send home the army and navy.
- Grant of Impositions on Drinks: This law gave the King certain taxes on beer, ale, and other drinks. This helped increase the King's income during his life.
Laws About Government and Society
- Indemnity and Oblivion Act: This was a very important law. It offered forgiveness for many actions taken during the time without a king. This helped bring peace to the country.
- Legal Proceedings During Commonwealth Act 1660: This law helped sort out legal cases that happened during the Commonwealth period.
- Restraining Excessive Usury: This law aimed to stop people from charging extremely high interest rates on loans.
- Perpetual Anniversary Thanksgiving: This law created a special day of thanks every year on May 29.
- Confirming and Restoring Ministers: This law helped bring back ministers (church leaders) to their churches.
- Navigation Act: This law was important for trade. It said that goods coming to England had to be carried on English ships or ships from the country where the goods came from. This helped protect English shipping.
- Prohibition of Wool Exports: This law stopped the export of wool from England.
- Confirmation of Marriages: This law confirmed that marriages performed during the Commonwealth period were still legal.
- Prohibition of Tobacco Plantations: This law stopped the growing of tobacco in the British Isles.
- Establishment of the General Post Office: This law created the official postal service for England.
The Convention Parliament also copied some laws that had been made during the Commonwealth period. They did this because all the laws from the Commonwealth were officially removed from the legal records. For example, they remade the Navigation Act of 1651.
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