Act of Union

Question 1

What battle left Protestantism the prevailing force in England?

Answer 1

Battle of Boyne 1690

King James II defeated

Question 2

What laws were introduced to ensure Anglican dominance in Ireland?

Answer 2

Penal Laws

Question 3

What percentage of the population was Catholic and what percentage of the land did they own in 1774?

Answer 3

75% of the population

Owned 5% of the land

Question 4

What percentage of the Irish population did the Anglican Church of Ireland represent?

Answer 4

15%

Question 5

In 1774 who did the Anglican Church of Ireland have the right to collect tithes from?

Answer 5

The whole population regardless of their religion

Question 6

Who primarily controlled administration in Ireland before the Act of the Union?

Answer 6

The Lord-Lieutenant

British governments representative in Ireland

Question 7

How was power of the Irish Parliament limited by:
Poyning’s Law of 1494
Declaratory Act of 1719
Septennial Act of 1715?

Answer 7

Ireland subject to laws of Westminster parliament
Irish parliament could only pass laws approved and suggested by Westminster
Requirement of a general election every 7 years did not apply to Ireland

Question 8

When was the American War of Independence?

Answer 8

1775-82

Question 9

What was the impact of the American War of Independence in Ireland?

Answer 9

Catholics remained loyal to the monarchy but used the war to gain improvements in the penal code
Protestants sympathetic to the revolution, saw themselves suffering in a similar way to the American colonists

Question 10

How did Ireland gain ‘Legislative Independence’ in 1782 and what did this form?

Answer 10

The formation of Grattan’s Parliament
A result of 40,000 Irish volunteers training and taking nil arms to prevent a French invasion during the American War of Independence but no invasion occurring

Question 11

How effective was Grattan’s Parliament?

Answer 11

A symbolic step but not a huge change in how Ireland was run.

Question 12

Why Grattan’s Parliament was not a big change from before?

Answer 12

Lord Lieutenants still influenced Irish policy through pressure and bribery

England maintained a veto through the monarchy

Remained unrepresentative:

• Irish HoC exclusive & franchise limited
• Anglican Ascendancy dominated
• Catholics couldn’t vote until 1793 & still couldn’t sit in parliament

Question 14

What year was the Act of the Union passed?

Answer 14

1800

Question 15

What year was the Act of Union brought into action?

Answer 15

1801

Question 16

What is the definition of Catholic emancipation?

Answer 16

Increasing the rights and reducing the restrictions of Catholics

Question 17

Why did Pitt believe that after the Union catholic suffrage would be seen as less dangerous?

Answer 17

Britain would still remain safely Protestant overall

Question 18

Why was the initial bill dropped under Lord North?

Answer 18

The Ascendancy opposed it, despite British and Irish’s parliament support

Question 19

Who was given the role of winning over the Irish public?

Answer 19

Viscount Castlereagh

Question 20

There are 7 arguments in favour of the Union. How many can you name?

Answer 20

1. Union would strengthen Ireland and Britain against the French and Spanish
2. British government would assume control of defending army, making it stronger
3. In a war, London to Dublin system of governing would be more efficient
4. The Union could preserve the Ascendency
5. Ireland would become part of the strong British economy, experiencing the growth and prosperity of England
6. Roman Catholics would be a minority making Protestants in Ireland less scared making it easier to give Catholics equal rights
7. Moral assimilation, breaking down the old Anglo Saxon / Celt divide

Question 21

There are 3 arguments against the Act of the Union. How many can you name?

Answer 21

1. Irish nationality, seen as a separate society with distinct institutions and interests so should be able to act in its own interest with own parliament
2. The AA believed Ireland was prospering under their rule
3. Ireland would have little say in the British laws they would be ruled by

Question 22

Why were the anti-unionists less effective in opposition than they wanted?

Answer 22

The AA remained opposed to the union but some such as Grattan’s supported emancipation and parliament reform, splitting their opposition

Question 23

Under which prime minister was the Act of Union passed?

Answer 23

William Pitt