Theme 4: Home Rule (1886-1905)

Question 1

What was a major problem with the term and idea of Home Rule?

Answer 1

It had many different interpretations and as it was such a big issue some believed it incapsulated a number of issues where others didn’t.

Question 2

What were some of the questions and problems with the idea of home rule?

Answer 2

Problem of Ulster, threat to empire, would it be enough, what relationship did home rule actually mean

Question 3

When was the first Home Rule bill proposed?

Answer 3

1886

Question 4

Why was the first home rule bill proposed?

Answer 4

1) The strength of the Irish Party after 1885 election lead Gladstone to fear they may decide to set up their own parliament unconstitutionally
2) Hawarden Kite
3) Gladstone’s sympathy
4) Arguably, to sideline chamberlain, he tried to reassert his authority

Question 5

What is the Hawarden Kite and how did it spring Gladstone into proposing the home rule bill?

Answer 5

Gladstones son and secretary accidentally leaked information regarding their masters intentions to propose and support home rule for Ireland. Gladstone was forced to speed up the process as he feared that talk and opinion would go against him giving him worse chances to get the Bill to pass.

Question 6

What were the main proposals of the 1886 Home Rule Bill?

Answer 6

Ireland given a two-order assembly, Irish income still given to British treasury, Irish MP’s not allowed at Westminster

Question 7

Why did the 1st home rule bill fail?

Answer 7

> Hawarden Kite forced Gladstone to rush an unfinished bill
Proposals: Ulster issue & Irish MP’s not allowed at Westminster lead many to feel they were unaccountable
HofL majority:They would have prevented the bill passing anyway
Consultation: he did not consult his party over the bill

Question 8

What was the vote in the HofC regarding the first Home Rule Bill?

Answer 8

341-311 against

Question 9

How many Liberals rebelled against Gladstone’s 1st home rule bill?

Answer 9

50

Question 10

What was Constructive Unionism?

Answer 10

A policy approach adopted by the Conservatives which used coercion and conciliation to “kill the home rule question with kindness” by improving mostly the economic situation of Ireland, so that the political fuss would dissipate.

Question 11

When was the Perpetual Crimes Act and why was it significant?

Answer 11

1887, it meant that Arthur Balfour could arrest individuals if they were thought to be causing or being the source of political unrest

Question 12

What was the name of the Massacre that was carried out under the 1887 Perpetual Crimes Act also what happened and when?

Answer 12

1887 Mitchelstown Massacre (3 Irish unlawfully killed)

Question 12

How many priests were arrested under the perpetual crimes act during constructive unionism?

Answer 12

2

Question 13

What was the Plan of Campaign and who lead it?

Answer 13

John Dillon and William O’Brien (members of Parnell’s party) lead the plan of campaign that involved rent strikes and boycotts to try and gain better rents

Question 13

Why would the plan of campaign be damaging to Parnell?

Answer 13

It threatened his respectability as a leader and made it difficulty to present the party as constitutional and cooperative

Question 14

When was Parnell proven not to be associated to the activities of the Plan of Campaign?

Answer 14

1889

Question 15

What did the Times Newspaper try to associate Parnell to?

Answer 15

The Plan of Campaign

Question 17

When were a number of Conservative Land Acts, and what did they all aid with in particular?

Answer 17

1887 & 1891 both built upon the 1885 Act by promoting tenant land purchase

Question 18

What was the name of the committee that was set up in Ireland as part of constructive unionism, and when?

Answer 18

All-Ireland Committee

1895

Question 19

What did the Congested District Boards do and when were they created?

Answer 19

Helped relocate Irish citizens living in compact and congested areas of housing 1891

Question 19

How much money was made available in loans for the tenants to buy their land in the 1891 Land Act?

Answer 19

£33 million

Question 20

How many acres had the congested district boards handed out to the Irish by 1923?

Answer 20

2 Million

Question 21

What and when was the Local Government Act?

Answer 21

In 1898 this act aimed to give greater power to the local governments of parts of Ireland by giving many householders the vote

Question 21

How much in loans were made available as part of the 1885 Ashbourne Purchase act?

Answer 21

£5Million

Question 22

What and who was the oh so infamous Wyndham Land Act?

Answer 22

In 1903, this act encouraged the landlords to sell the land to the tenants. It gave bonuses to those who sold and for tenants they would pay back interest at a low and prolonged period

Question 22

What did the Balfour Land act achieve and when?

Answer 22

1887

1) A further £5Million in land purchase loans made available
2) Allowed for the tenant to participate in the rent tribunal that was granted by the 1881 Land Act

Question 23

How much money was provided for selling bonuses under the Wyndham Land Act?

Answer 23

£12 Million

Question 24

Outline the way tenants would pay back interest under the Wyndham Land Act

Answer 24

3.28% over 68 Years

Question 26

What was the Irish parties response to Constructive Unionism?

Answer 26

It was varied. Some saw plainly and recognise it as a great period for Ireland. However some saw it as too good as it threatened to, as it said, kill home rule with kindness which meant the issue for the greater goal would be lost.

Question 27

What was proposed in the 1893 Home Rule Bill by Gladstone?

Answer 27

It addressed the same issues as in 1886 however it resolved most issues that came from it such as Irish MP’s at Westminster

Question 30

Why did the 1893 Home a Rule Bill fail?

Answer 30

House of Lords passed it down by 419-41

Question 32

What lead to the fall of Parnell?

Answer 32

His private life: He was proven to be an adulterer as part of the Captain O’Shea divorce papers. This was bad because, adultery was a great sin in Victorian times so reputation plummeted

Question 34

What happened to the Liberal Party as a result of Parnell’s fall?

Answer 34

It split into two divisions (For and Against Parnell) in 1891 and then eventually was united again in 1900

Question 35

How many Irish MP’s did Gladstone propose attend Westminster as part of the 1893 HR Bill?

Answer 35

80

Question 36

When did Parnell die?

Answer 36

1891

Question 37

After the 1885 election, due to the strength of the IPP, who did Parnell temporarily target to reduce the power of the house of lords?

Answer 37

The Conservatives (e.g Lord Caernarvon)

Question 38

What was Gladstone’s view on coercion?

Answer 38

To use it where necessary such as the Phoenix Park Murders and New Departure

Question 39

Who were the group of fenians who carried out violent activity such as the attack on Gladstone’s nephew in the Phoenix Park Murders?

Answer 39

“The Invincibles”

Question 40

What were some of Gladstone’s biggest political mistakes?

Answer 40

1) Failure to consult his political party in 1886
2) Thinking that the Conservatives could be ushered into supporting home rule
3) The failure not to consider Ulster in HR

Question 41

Why were redmond and other liberal members fearful of the idea of no Irish MP’s westminster in the 1886 Home Rule Bill?

Answer 41

Because, despite being in favour of Home Rule, they feared that it would reduce the accountability of Ireland and possibly lead to the breakup of the union eventually