1. Protestant Ascendency

Question 1

Define Protestant ascendancy

Answer 1

A period of Protestant domination in all aspects of Irish life.
Late 17th century, continuing in the early 20th century.

Question 2

What are Penal Laws?

Answer 2

Restriction of political rights

Question 3

What were the Catholics trying to achieve before 1870?

Answer 3

Trying to achieve greater toleration of their religion following the implementation of Penal Laws that restricted their political rights.

Question 4

What is the Protestant ascendancy?

Answer 4

After Henry VIII’s plan to send British Protestants to Ireland and make them noblemen, the Protestants wanted to retain their dominant position following William III on throne.

Question 5

How did the British government have autonomy over the Irish Parliament?

Answer 5

Ireland was under the direction of the British government. Any decisions reached by the parliament had to be agreed by the lord lieutenant (viceroy- chief representative of the British monarch) of Ireland

Question 6

How did the Protestants benefit from the Penal Laws?

Answer 6

Protestant landowners benefited greatly from the economic environment that had been created through the discriminatory Penal Laws