The condition of Ireland and Anglo-Irish relations 1851-86 Flashcards
what is home rule?
a system by which Ireland would have their own parliament, responsible for domestic affairs, but would also remain under the ultimate control of Westminster
why were irish farmers agitated?
sometimes evicted without reason, rarely had money to invest in improvement, yields low
why did Gladstone want to disestablish the church?
90% of the irish population were catholic and it meant that 5.3mill/5.8mill were paying a tithe (10% of their income to the anglican church which they did not attend
what was a quarter of the church’s assets used for?
16 million - improving schools, hospitals and workhouses. the poor in Ireland benefitted
who were the Fenians?
a militant nationalist group who wanted to end union with Britain, willing to use violence eg Manchester 1867
what were the two main issues causing unrest?
- the desire for an independent Ireland or home rule
2. land ownership, rents and evictions
did the irish church act bring an end to violence?
no, it failed so Gladstone moved on to land reform
what had the irish tenant league wanted in 1850s?
the three F’s
fixed tenure, free rents and free sale
what did the land act 1870 do?
- tenants not to be evicted if they were up to date with their rents
- evicted tenants had to be paid compensation by landlords
why did the land act 1870 fail?
- did not fully dress the major concerns of the Irish people
- eviction clauses largely ineffective as rent control not efficiently imposed
why was coercion introduced in 1871?
bc violence continued after the land act
coercion gave extra power over arrests and imprisonment
what made the situation worse?
series of bad harvests 1877-79, famine returned, failure of the potato crop, suffered due to imported US grain which was much cheaper, farmers income fell, estimated 6000 people lost their homes
what was the irish land league?
formed in 1879, by Michael Davitt.
Parnell was president
the land lead provided practical help for evicted tenants as well as carrying out a campaign of violence against selected landlords.
what was the home rule association?
founded in 1870 by Isaac Butt, in 1874 60 irish MPs claimed to be in favour of home rule
Butt was unable to convince Disraeli’s govt that it should be a priority
why was the 1880 election successful for Parnell?
home rule association now called Irish parliamentary party had won 61 seats
why was Coercion 1880 introduced?
in response to the violence of the land league, which had assassinated the leading landowner Lord Mountmorres
act gave greater authorities of arrest -> Davitt imprisoned + 36 IPP MPs expelled from parliament
what did the second irish land act 1881 do?
gave legal status to the three F’s + included creation of land courts to ensure fair rent
demands of the irish had changed by 1880, they wanted their own land, 10 yrs too late
coercion 1882
Parnell advocated non payment of rent, this boycott made the land act inoperable, + the govt had to reset to more forceful measures. Parnell + other leaders were arrested.
what was the Kilmainham treaty?
1882, an agreement where Parnell was released in return for assurances that the land war would end
what was the phoenix park murders?
lord Cavendish and his secretary burke were murdered by the invincibles (republican organisation)
what was the irish universities bill?
an attempt to create a state catholic university
how far did the British govt solve the ‘irish question’ 1868-85
land
religion
politics
despite some progress made in religion, they didn’t solve the issue ‘irish question’ as there was also still some religious tension
what was the irish question?
1868, Gladstone wanted to ‘pacify Ireland’
land - poor quality rights
religion- 85% catholics but protestants in authority
politics - relationship between Ireland + Westminster
what was the prevention of crimes act 1882?
suspending trial by jury, provided Parnell w opportunity = he distance himself from his militant approach -> breaking with Davitt and setting up the irish national league committed primarily to the cause of home rule
conclusion of Gladstone’s efforts to pacify Ireland
although he was genuinely interested in helping the irish, overall he failed to pacify Ireland, he made a good effort on the religious side of it but there was still conflict shown by the 2nd irish land act - on the right lines but 10 yrs too late
