Chapter 14 - The Rise and Impact of Nationalism and Unionism Flashcards
What were the main religious denominations in Ireland in the late nineteenth century?
The main religious denominations on the island of Ireland in the late nineteenth century were:
• Catholics - 77% of the population
• Anglicans (Church of Ireland/Protestant faith) - 12%
• Presbyterians (also called dissenters; Protestant) - 9%
• Other Protestant faiths, including the Quakers, Baptists and Methodists - 2%
What were religious divisions across provinces like?
The three provinces of Connacht, Leinster and Munster were mainly Catholic and by 1911, 89.6% of its population was Catholic. In contrast, Ulster had a slight Protestant majority, at 56.33%. Many were descended from the settlers of the Ulster Plantation.
What were the two main opinions on the still active 1800 Act of Union?
Ireland still ruled directly from Westminster in London, at the turn of the 20th Century. There were two mainopinions on this arrangement – nationalism and unionism.
Unionistswanted to keep the system as it was.
Nationalistswanted some form ofIrish self-governance.
What is an Irish nationalist?
An Irish nationalist is someone who believes that the Irish people are their own nation.
What are constitutional nationalists?
Constitutional nationalists wanted to see the re-establishment of a parliament in Ireland and to achieve this through the use of politics.
How were constitutional nationalists represented?
They were represented by The Home Rule Party, founded by Isaac Butt in 1874,was the largest nationalist political party: it won 86 of 105 seats in the 1885 general election under Charles Stewart Parnell’s leadership.
What was home rule?
Home Rule meant that Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom but have its own parliament in Dublin to govern local affairs, while Westminster would control trade and foreign affairs.
What were radical nationalists?
Radical nationalists wanted full independence from Britain and believed that they should use force if necessary to achieve this.
What is a republic?
republic is a country not ruled by a monarch, but instead ruled by its citizens, who choose their representatives.
What was the IRB?
The IRB was a secret organisation, that required an oath. It was founded by James Stephens in 1858. The IRBs main was to achieve an Irish republic.
What is a unionist?
A unionist is someone who wants Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom with Britain.
When was the Unionist party founded and who were its leaders?
The Unionist Party was founded in 1905. The leaders of the Unionist Party in this period were Colonel Edward Saunderson, Walter Hume Long and Edward Carson.
What were the aims of Sinn Féin?
Its aims were to win Irish independenceand establish an Irish parliament. A dual monarchy, where the King/Queen of England would also be the King/Queen of Ireland. To achieve this,Sinn Féin believed in using parliamentary abstention.
What were the main aims of the IRB?
The IRB wanted:
• complete independence from Britain
• to make Ireland a republic
• to use physical force to achieve this.
What were the main aims of the Unionist Party?
The Unionist Party wanted:
• the parliament in Westminster to continue to make laws for Ireland
• the British government and the Crown to still have representatives in Ireland.
