ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

The History of Parliament

Parliament is a big group of people who work together to decide on important things for a country. The idea of parliament started a very long time ago in England, many years before you were born.

Back then, there was a king or queen who made all the decisions for the country. But some people thought this wasn't fair because not everyone had a say in what was happening. They wanted to create a group where everyone could talk about what they thought was best for the country and make decisions together.

This group was called parliament, and it started in the 13th century. At first, it was made up of only a few powerful people who were chosen by the king to help him make decisions. But over time, more and more people were allowed to join parliament, including ordinary citizens who were elected by their communities.

As parliament grew, it became more powerful. It began to pass laws and make decisions without the king or queen's permission. This caused some tension between parliament and the monarch, and there were times when they didn't agree on things.

One very important event in the history of parliament happened in the 1600s. This was the English Civil War, when people were fighting over who should have the most power in England. One side wanted the king to have all the power, while the other side believed that parliament should be the one making the decisions.

In the end, parliament won the war and became the most powerful group in England. They made a lot of important changes, such as giving more rights to ordinary people and limiting the power of the king or queen.

Today, many countries around the world have parliaments of their own, and they all work in pretty much the same way as England's parliament did many years ago. They're important because they allow people to have a say in what happens in their country, and they make sure that everyone's voice is heard.