The Long Parliament, which had been in session since 1640, was integral to the English Civil War and the subsequent establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. However, by the late 1650s, the political landscape was shifting, and there was growing dissatisfaction with the authoritarian rule of the Protectorate. As dissatisfaction brewed, there was a strong movement advocating for the restoration of the monarchy, and the political necessity for a new parliamentary assembly became evident. The dissolution of the Long Parliament in March 1660 was a strategic maneuver to facilitate the establishment of the Convention Parliament. This new assembly was tasked with addressing the governance of England and ultimately heralding the return of Charles II to the throne, following years of republican governance. The dissolution marked a restoration of traditional parliamentary authority and the monarchy, which would reshape the political landscape of England and its governance for years to come.

Amidst this political transition, various factions and interest groups jockeyed for position, looking to influence the future direction of England. The phases leading up to the dissolution highlighted the complexities of power dynamics of the time, including tensions between the military and civilian government. The Convention Parliament that followed conducted the necessary negotiations and frameworks for reinstating the monarchy, framing their actions within a context of legality and representative governance. By doing so, they laid the groundwork for a constitutional monarchy, balancing the powers of the King with parliamentary authority. The dissolution thus symbolized not just the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new chapter in English political life, marked by the aspiration of a more balanced and representative government.