List of members nominated to the English parliament in 1653 facts for kids
This article is about a special English Parliament that met in 1653. It was put together by Oliver Cromwell, a very important leader in England at the time. This Parliament was quite different from others.
It was often called the "Little Parliament" because it had fewer members than usual. Most towns and cities didn't send representatives, except for the big City of London. However, it did include a few people from Scotland and Ireland, which was new. Because it was so small and unusual, people also nicknamed it the Barebone's Parliament. This funny name came from one of its members, Praise-God Barebone, who represented the City of London. This Parliament met for a few months, from July 5, 1653, until December 12, 1653.
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What Was the Little Parliament?
The Little Parliament was not chosen by elections like parliaments today. Instead, Oliver Cromwell and his Army Council picked all the members. This was a time when England was a republic, not a kingdom with a king. Cromwell was in charge, and he wanted a group of people to help him govern the country.
This Parliament was unique because it was meant to be a "parliament of saints." Cromwell hoped the members would be very religious and honest people who would make good laws for England.
Who Were the Members?
About 140 people were chosen to be part of the Little Parliament. Most of them were from England and Wales. There were also five members from Scotland and six from Ireland. In addition, six important military leaders, including Oliver Cromwell himself, were nominated to join.
The members came from different parts of society. Some were soldiers, some were landowners, and some were religious leaders. They were all chosen because Cromwell believed they would support his ideas for how England should be run.
One famous member was Praise-God Barebone, who was a leather merchant from London. His unusual name helped give the Parliament its nickname.
What Did the Little Parliament Do?
The Little Parliament tried to make many changes in England. They wanted to reform the legal system, which was very old and complicated. They also discussed changes to how the church was run and how taxes were collected.
However, the members had many different ideas, and it was hard for them to agree. Some wanted very radical changes, while others were more cautious. Because of these disagreements, the Parliament struggled to pass new laws. After only a few months, the members decided to give up their power. They handed it back to Oliver Cromwell. This led to Cromwell becoming the Lord Protector of England, giving him even more power.
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Images for kids
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Praise-God Barebone was a member of the Little Parliament.
