Short Parliament facts for kids
The Short Parliament was a special meeting of the English Parliament. It happened in England from April 13 to May 5 in 1640. It was called "Short" because it only lasted for about three weeks. This short meeting was a big moment in the lead-up to the English Civil War.
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Why King Charles I Needed Parliament
King Charles I of England was also the King of Scotland. He was having serious problems with the Church of Scotland. This disagreement was leading to a new war between England and Scotland. For 11 years, King Charles had ruled England all by himself. He did not call Parliament during this time. He preferred to make decisions without elected representatives. But to fight the war against the Scots, Charles needed a lot of money. The only way to get this money was for Parliament to approve new taxes. So, he had to call Parliament back into session.
The Parliament's Demands
When Parliament met, its members were not happy with King Charles. They wanted to discuss the things he had done since 1629. They felt he had ruled unfairly without their input. Instead of giving the king money right away, they wanted to talk about these issues first. A powerful member named John Pym spoke strongly. He said Parliament would not give money unless the king addressed their concerns.
The Parliament Ends Quickly
King Charles did not like Parliament's demands. He quickly closed the Parliament and sent everyone home. He then tried to fight the Scots without the money. But his plan did not work, and he lost the war. He was forced to agree to pay the Scots. Because of this, he had to call Parliament again. This next meeting became known as the Long Parliament. The disagreements that followed led to the terrible English Civil War.
Images for kids
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Sir John Glanville, who was the Speaker of the House of Commons during the Short Parliament.
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