Theme 2: Land issues (1845-91)

Question 1

What were to become known as the main demands for fair land terms?

Answer 1

Free Sale> Land sold to next interested tenant & evicted farmers compensated for any improvements to land
Fair Rent> Fair rents decided upon by commissioner in tribunal
Fixity of Tenure> Tennant guaranteed occupation of land for a time period

Question 2

After the Great Famine what was the landowners treatment of the tenants like?

Answer 2

Land investment and improvement, reasonable rents, peaceful and prosperous for tenants

Question 3

How did Fenianism lead to the 1870 Land Act?

Answer 3

Combined with constitutional nationalism it was a very effective political force that was very influential in a democracy when it came to general elections. Gladstone realised this and saw an opportunity to gain support

Question 4

How did the economic downturn lead to the 1870 Land Act?

Answer 4

Gladstone recognised the economic difficulties of Ireland following the late 1860s economic downturn, it was hoped that the act would provide some form of recovery and prosperity to Irish

Question 5

How did Gladstone lead to the 1870 Land Act?

Answer 5

He was notably sympathetic towards the Irish tenants and felt that the Act would be morally correct, as shown by the legalising by custom of the act

Question 6

What were the terms of the 1870 Land Act?

Answer 6

Free Sale, non-exorbitant rents and loans for tenants wishing to buy the land

Question 7

What were the limitations of the 1870 Land Act?

Answer 7

No tribunal for deciding rents, not everyone was covered, easily manipulated by landlords, loans were mostly unaffordable, no fixity of tenure.

Question 8

What was the importance of the 1870 Land Act?

Answer 8

It was a symbol of change and setting a precedent for future improvements

Question 9

What lead to the founding of the National Land League?

Answer 9

Another late 1870s economic downturn

Question 10

How much did potato production fall in the late 1870s economic downturn?

Answer 10

75%

Question 11

Who formulated and when was the national league formed?

Answer 11

Michael Davitt

1879

Question 12

Who was elected president of the National Land League?

Answer 12

Charles Stewart Parnell

Question 13

What methods did the NLL use?

Answer 13

Media, protest, speeches and assassinations

Question 14

What did the NLL want ?

Answer 14

Land Reform mostly however it was under an umbrella movement

Question 15

What did the NLL act as?

Answer 15

Umbrella movement for change in both land and home rule

Question 16

Why was there an umberella movement for land and home rule?

Answer 16

Because Parnell was part of two big Irish organisations: Irish National Land League and Irish Nationalist Party. The names lead people to see them as one

Question 17

What events were the NLL tied to?

Answer 17

Captain Boycott Incident and assassination of Lord Montmares

Question 18

Why did Gladstone introduce the 1881 Land Act?

Answer 18

Acted as a stress reliever for the bubbling violence upon the surface of social and political life

Question 19

What did the 1881 Land Act fully guarantee?

Answer 19

The 3 F’s

Question 20

What was the Kilmainham treaty and when?

Answer 20

In 1882 Parnell was released from prison in return for him to stop inspiring the rent strike and in return the rents of tenants would be wiped clean

Question 21

Why did the NLL call for the “Plan of Campaign”?

Answer 21

Another late 1880’s economic downturn and the revival of the National Land League by John Dillon and William O’Brien after its previous years of uncertainty lead them to call for reduced rents

Question 22

What did the Conservative government aim to do with coercion and conciliation?

Answer 22

Kill land question with kindness

Question 23

Why was there a late 1870’s economic downturn

Answer 23

1) Potato Crop failure

2) sudden mass importing of cheap American goods

Question 24

What percentage of landlords did not live on the land in the 1870’s?

Answer 24

25%

Question 25

Who did landlords ask to take control of their land while they were away and how did this create tension?

Answer 25

They asked land agents to take control of the land of whom were usually ex-military and slept with a gun under pillow that meant they were violent, especially in West Ireland

Question 26

Why did the state of Irish land improve between the Great Famine and the 1870s?

Answer 26

There was more space available and sympathy as 1 million died and 1.5 million emigrated

Question 27

What political philosophy was Gladstone a firm believer in and when was this shown?

Answer 27

In the 1870 Land Act and 1881 Land Act Gladstone showcased his belief in democracy