Irish Home Rule 1867-1890 Flashcards
When did Gladstone first minister begun and what acts did he pass in 1870 and 1873
What was established in 1873
Gladstone first ministers began in 1868 and he claimed he had the mission to pacify Ireland
-1870 Irish church act which dis established the Protestant church of Ireland in a catholic (80%) Ireland and abolished the tithe, church property now used for hospitals schools etc
-1870, passes the first land act - aims to make the Ulster custom recognised in the rest of Ireland which aimed to fulfil the three Fs and provide fixed tenure, act also introduced claims for compensation so tenants could improve land- bright clause which was diluted offered tenants to borrow 2/3 of value of land and repay the loan at 5% for 35 years
Gladstone also proposed financial penalties for those who increased rent
-1873 Irish universities bill which aimed to reform denominational universities which was unsuccessful , defeated in parliament
- home rule league founded by Isaac butt
What was the reaction and effect of the Irish Land Act and what was gladstones responses
The land act failed to give basic protection to tenants or satisfy landlords
-tenants - fair rent clause was limited as it failed to define fair rent, excluded those non leases of 31 years, landlords still retained power to raise rents as they pleased and evict tenant for non payment , no compensation for eviction , cost of buying land remained high - brights cause not introduced for fear of upsetting the whigs
-landlords- challenged Protestant ascendency , saw as an attack on property rights and began to express importance of maintaining union
- regarded as a failure as it caused further outbreaks of unrest
-gladstone passed coercion act - police constables given extensive power to carry out arrests and destroyed positives of the act
When did Parnell come into power
How many Irish liberals back home rule at this time
-1875, seat in parliament as a home ruler conservatives won previous general election
(60 Irish liberals back home rule )
What is the great departure
When and who founded land league and what were its aims
Parnell and the land league forming an informal alliance to work together, Parnell becomes president
- the land league was funded by Irish American supports and its aim was to reform the land tenure system (1879), Michael Davitt and John Devoy
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When and what were the land wars and why?
Reference economy and Great Depression
Link to land act
-1877-1879 wet summmers and disaster outs harvest and the arrival of cheap American corn
-low crop yields and fall in the price of British wheat
-1879-1883 over 14,600 tenants evicted, people could no longer afford / meet rent demand so faced eviction
-landowners organised land into larger units to make more viable so more tenants were evicted
-land war consisted of boycotts of rent occupation and violence towards landlords agents and police
-organised mass meetings to demand decrease in rent
-land league organised boycotts from whole communities
-rural Ireland was viewed as ungovernable
-land act had failed to give sufficient protection
How did Gladstone respond to the land wars of 1879 and filibustering
In 1880 Gladstone passed the second coercion act which allowed suspected involvement in illegal activities to be imprisoned for indefinite periods of time without trial
-legislation was held up by filibustering for 41 hours
What did the 1881 Land act consist of
Parnells view on land act
- passed in further response to land wars
- established land courts to establish fair rent that both landlords and tenants were bound to
-rent to be fixed for 15 years
-rent could not be increased against a tenants improvements
-land purchase scheme set up , rents reduced by 20%
-HOWEVER- act failed to help the thousands of tenants who were in arrears and still no definition of fair rent existed -130,000
-Parnell viewed as victory for his tactics and was even more insistent on applying pressure until home rule establish
What did home rule mean at this time
Home rule meant the establishment of and Irish parliament and government to deal with home matters while retaining union with GB (devolution)
When was Parnell arrested and the consequences
- arrested in October 1881 under term of coercion act and held in kilmainham gaol
-land league was proscribed
What was the kilmainham treaty and what did it lead to
- violence continued even with land league proscribed and Parnell in prison so organised a compromise with Parnell
Led to Arrears Act 1882, on condition that Parnell renounced violence and end rent strikes - Parnell agreed if the liberals would end arrears and inconsistencies in earlier act
When and what were phoenix park murders
And what did Parnell set up
6th of may 1882-
Sir Frederick cavendish - chief sec of Ireland and Thomas Burke were murdered in broad daylight by revolutionary group of fenians called the invincibles
Parnell set up national league to promote home rule
Impact of land act
- reduced rent and made land cheaper so it was easier to buy land assisted by govt loan schemes
-however only temporary solution
What happened in 1885
Parnell and Irish nationalists disenchanted by Gladstone policies voted in line with the conservatives to bring Gladstone down leading to the formation of con minority govt with support of Irish nationalist through promise of supporting home rule
The policy of coercion was ended and passed the Asborne Act providing 100% state loans to tenants at low interest rates
Results of 1886 election
- Liberals won majority of 86 seats and IPP also returned with 86 seats - so held significant power between the two parties
What did Gladstone do in December 1885 and why (Harwarden kite)
- leaked that he altered his position and now supported home rule
Why?
-end of coercion borough violence and was beliefs that devolved institutions would bring about peace and stability - Gladstone felt moral obligation to introduce home rule especially since the majority demanded it
