ireland 1851-86

Question 1

anglo irish relations

Answer 1

-act of union 1800: irish parliament ended
-context: irish people made poor living, potato famine in 1840 led to hardship and poverty and british did little to help causing resentment, 1860s movement emerged, 1870s and 80s affected by agricultural depression
-land: tenants lived in terrible conditions, resentment, wanted 3Fs
-1870 land act
-violence and coercion: mass meetings, violence, agragrarian crimes, parnell filibustered in parliament to persuade gladstone
-second land act granted 3Fs. wanted nationalisation, parnell told them not to pay rent, imprisoned by Forster, land war continued led to Kilmainham treaty (agreement with Gladstone that land war would end and parnell released)
-phoenix park murders: Cavendish and under secretary murdered (chief irish sec), related to Gladstone

Question 2

Charles stewart Parnell

Answer 2

-leader of Irish land league and home rule party
-popularity of home rule: growing militancy after famine, sever links with Britain, Fenians wanted complete republic, 1885 used power to put home rule at top of agenda
-1881 land act accompanied with coercion
-irish national league: set up after murders, key aim to secure home rule, had support of Catholic Church. 3rd reform act increased electorate from 224k to 738k, tories and liberals negotiated with them
-82-85: gladstone unlikely to support, withdrew support, 1885 held balance of power

Question 3

why did gladstone convert to home rule

Answer 3

-traditional view: mission was to pacify, logical step in maintaining relations, genuinely wanted to solve grievances, 86 forced towards it