Ireland

• Ireland had been under British rule since before the 17th century.
• upon the loss of Irish land, Irish people became tenants to English landlords.
• 1782

  • Irish parliament granted legislative independence but was still dominated by English ascendency and controlled through England by the Lord Lieutenant.
• Denied civil rights:

  • Catholics
  • Presbyterian linen workers in Belfast - business hampered by lack of rights
• October 1791


  The Society of United Irishmen formed
• Aims of the United Irishmen

  • Establish a democracy in Ireland through parliamentary reform
  • seek equal rights for all men, regardless of religion
• Wolfe Tone

  • protestant barrister from Dublin
  • believed the ascendency had to be ousted to gain freedom
  • proposed working wuth the Catholics to gain rights for all
  • he ultimately wanted a complete separation from England
• 1793 


  Catholic Relief Act
• Catholic Relief Act

  Catholics could vote but not become MPs
• 1795 


  Pitt attempted to pass Catholic Emancipation but was met with opposition from George III
• 1797-98


  Tone attempted to plot French landings in Ireland but was overwhelmed by government troops. Tone was captured and cut his throat in prison
• 1800


  Act of Union
• Act of Union

  • 300 Dublin MPs reduced to 100 MPs
  • merged British and Irish parliaments
• 1799


  Combination Act
• Combination Act


  banned trade unions and friendly societies
• 1801


  Pitt resigns
• 1823


  The Catholic Association was founded
• 1828


  Repeal of the Test and Corporations Act
• Corporation Act

  • Passed in 1661
  • ensured that anyone who held municipal office had to be confirmed into the Anglican Church
• Test Act

  • Passed in 1673
  • anyone who held a civil or military office under the crown had to be confirmed into the Anglican church
• Who put forward the repeal of the T+C acts?

  Lord John Russell (Whig)
• What did the repeal of the Test and Corporation Act do?

  It allowed nonconformists to hold public office
• 1827 General Election 


  Irish Catholic voters voted for liberal and pro-emancipation candidates to bring debate to prominence
• 1828


  County Clare Election
• Who stood for election in County Clare?

  Daniel O‘ Connell
• Who found the Catholic Association?

  Daniel O’Connell
• Who joined the Catholic Association?

  Frustrated Middle Class professionals
• Catholic Rent

  Collected by the church, opened membership to Irish peasantry as only 1p a month
• Order of Liberation

  • Formed after Catholic Association made illegal
  • United church, middle class and peasants
• who stood against O’Connell in the County Clare election?

  Vessey Fitzgerald
• Who could vote in the County Clare election?

  Farmers with land worth over 40 shillings
• Consequences of County Clare election

  • Wellington and Peel could not deny O’Connell his seat without violent civil unrest
  • feared of Catholics standing in every seat in Ireland
  • introduced Catholic Emancipation Bill
• February 1829


  Introduction of Catholic Emancipation Bill
• By how much did O‘Connell win?

  2 votes to 1
• Catholic Emancipation Bill

  • Roman Catholics eligible for all office of state bar Regent, Lord Chancellor and Lord Lieutenant general.
  • no oath of supremacy required
• Consequences of the Catholic Emancipation Bill

  • Wellington and Peel ridiculed in parliament
  • Catholic Association banned
  • 40 shilling franchise raised to £10 - took away rights of Catholic smallholder who had voted for O’Connell
  • Wellington wanted O ‘Connell to stand again as previous election was illegal (Tit-for-tat)
• Three main reasons for dissatisfaction in Ireland:

  1. The Church
  2. the land (economy was land based and could not support a growing population)
  3. Their national identity
• British politicians attitude towards suffering in Ireland

  lacked sympathy and lack of understanding
• 1842


  Peel indicates he will pursue impartial policies towards Ireland to try and win over Catholic population
• O’Connell’s anti-union meetings

  Nicknamed ‘monster’ as each were attended by 100,000 people