Coercion Acts

Question 1

What is the formal name of the Coercion Act?

Answer 1

The Protection of Person and Property Act

Question 2

What did the Coercion Acts respond to?

Answer 2

Popular discontent and disorder within Ireland.

Question 3

As Irish Secretary, why did Peel introduce several Insurrection Acts?

Answer 3

Peel’s priority in the period 1812-1818 was to create and maintain law and order.

Question 4

What did the Insurrection Acts allow?

Answer 4

Arrest and imprisonment without trial.

Question 6

Why was the 1833 Coercion Act introduced?

Answer 6

In order to stop the Tithe war; aimed to stamp out unrest and to collect the arrears.

Question 7

What led to the Tithe war in 1831?

Answer 7

Catholic peasantry were angered by taxes, the loss of vote and general frustration by poor living conditions. They refused to pay tithe and virtually rejected established authority.

Question 8

Why did Gladstone reluctantly introduce a new Coercion Bill in 1881?

Answer 8

Due to an intensification of the land issues. Ireland faced a social revolution as a result of the activities of the Land League.

Question 9

Who were the Land League?

Answer 9

An Irish political organisation who sought to help poor tenant farmers led by Michael Davitt and Charles Parnell.

Question 10

What were the aims of the Land League?

Answer 10

To abolish landlordism in Ireland and enable tenant farmers to own the land they worked on.

Question 11

Why was Gladstone reluctant to pass the Coercion Act?

Answer 11

He hoped to solve the land issue in the long term with legislative reform, but was under pressure from the increasing violence and unrest in the Land War.

Question 12

Who opposed the Coercion Act?

Answer 12

Parnell and the Irish Patty in the commons. They used obstruction for 41 hours.

Question 13

What were the direct consequences of the Coercion Act?

Answer 13

Michael Davitt was imprisoned and the government expelled 36 Irish MPs, including Parnell.

Question 14

How did the passing of the Coercion Act benefit the Land League’s cause?

Answer 14

It unified and strengthened the Irish Parliamentary Party, also increasing the prestige of Parnell.

Question 15

What was the 1880 General Election fought on in Ireland, in which the IPP won 63 of 100 seats?

Answer 15

The land issue.

Question 16

What was a key term of the 1832 Coercion Act?

Answer 16

The British could ban meetings unless approved by the government.

Question 17

What did the Coercion Act allow authorities in Ireland to do?

Answer 17

They could arrest and detain anyone they felt was committing an offence without the need for evidence or a trial.

Question 18

Why did the government give up on conciliation measures?

Answer 18

Irish action, but also because the House of Lords failed to pass the compensations for disturbance bill.

Question 19

What was the compensations for disturbance bill?

Answer 19

A temporary measure intended to reduce suffering in Ireland. The House of Lords rejected it because of its potential impact for landlords.

Question 20

What did the Coercion Act mark?

Answer 20

A more sympathetic attitude from Britain towards Irish problems - because of the reluctance.