Ireland 1850-1886 Flashcards
land agitation
- majority of the population made a poor living by renting out small parcels of land from the landlord class.
- tenant farmers were no longer able to pay rent which caused evictions.
- famine and disease led to widespread poverty in mid 19th century.
- cheap American corn coming in to the market drove down prices and profits which caused people to not have enough money for renting.
- most land was owned by anglo Irish protestant who were descendants of English protestants.
- complicated agreements on subletting as it carried out little security of tenure.
- landowners were only interested in rent money and not the condition of the land.
tenant league formed in 1850s
- argued for clear rights for tenants. Fixity of Tenure, Fair Rents and Freedom to sell their interest in their holding to another tenant.
political response
-Gladstone’s first ministry(1869-1874) he sought to achieve a relationship between landlords and tenants
- 1870 Irish land act which gave financial penalties to landlords who carried out evictions. tenants could claim compensation for improvements made to a property.
the land act failed to give basic protection to tenants and to satisfy landlords.
- the act was also a failure as it caused further outbreaks of unrest among tenants in rural areas.
This caused Gladstone to pass the Coercion Act 1870. this allowed the police to carry out arrests.
- Many believe that Gladstone should have passed the coercion act as it lead to people being more agitated and also lead to problems for the future.
land wars
- effects of agricultural depression were being felt in Ireland(late 1870s)
- before profits in agriculture were increasing and Irish tenants farmers were enjoying prosperity and a rise in the standard of living.
- 1877-1879 wet summers poor harvests and cheap American corn effected Ireland in all areas.
- fall in British wheat meant fall in profits for farmers.
- land owners reacted to the change by organising their land into larger units resulting in less people being evicted.
THIS SHOWED THAT GLADSTONES FIRST LAND ACT DID NOT WORK AS PEOPLE WERE STILL STRUGGLING.
the republican brotherhood
was a society to make Ireland an independent democratic republic. had a lot of support from Irish Americans.
Irish land league
founded in 1879 by Davitt a member of the Fenians.
-aim was to reform the land tenure system and gain security for tenant farmers and small holders.
violence and coercion
- Davitts land league organised demonstration using mass meeting.
- used non violent strategies and was to boycott landlords.
- evcited tenants were supported bygones who carried out acts of violence.
-However Parnell and Davitt condemned the violence advising members to not get involved.
why did Gladstone convert to Home rule?
- gladstone converted to Home rule as he did not want to be defeated by the conservatives.
he also saw how Denmark and Norway had split. Nationalism is important to Gladstone which was reason for home rule.
what did Gladstone do about the violence.
- Gladstone believed that the land league was a ‘criminal conspiracy’
- there was more violence and unrest which led to Gladstone introducing the second land act in 1881 also known as the coercion acts.
this act allowed anyone suspected to be involved in illegal activities to be imprisoned without trial.
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1881 Land act
- set up special land courts to establish a fair rent
- tenants were safe from eviction as long as they paid their rent.
many believe that a weakness was that fair rent was not defined.
when the land act was in action rents were on average 20% lower which brought down the price of land making it easier for tenants to buy land.
October 1881(arrests)
- Parnell and his followers were arrested under the coercion act and held in kilmainhaim goal.
- Gladstone organised a compromise deal in which Parnell denounce violence.
- released in may 1882.
-6 may phoenix park murders occurred which set back cooperation between Gladstone and the Home rule party.
who was Isaac Butt
- wanted tot set up a separate government in Dublin to run internal affairs.
- 1873 butt set up the Home Rule League and had a support.
- was a moderate and believed in achieving political indolence for Ireland through peaceful means.
reasons for failure in Irish home rule.
- Gladstone made himself unpopular among many of his supporters due to failed legislation.
- British believe Ireland had been dealt with generously.
- Great Depression caused unrest with many of the Irish suffering.
why did Gladstone suddenly support home rule.
- believe that govnt should remain consistent with Irish policy.
- believe that the conservatives would introduce home rule before him..
This can imply that Gladstone may have turned to Home rule to not loose support and for the wrong reasons.
