Ireland Flashcards
(39 cards)
1
Q
What was Home Rule
A
a desire by many Irish to repeal the terms of the Act of union 1800 to establish a parliament in Dublin, from which they could control domestic affairs.
2
Q
Why was there significant tension between the Irish and British after the potato famine (1845-1850)
A
- 1 million deaths, the Irish blamed government for a lack of intervention and consideration (due to laissez failure attitude of government)..
- There was a lack of British identity in Ireland (there was a ‘them and us’ attitude between the two groups). As a result British government constantly feared rebellion.
- During the famine population decreased by 3 million meaning that the Irish economy continued to decline.
3
Q
What did the Fenians do in 1868
A
- a terror attack in Manchester (government used this to polarise the Irish independence/nationalist movement)
4
Q
population change of Ireland between 1841 and 1911
A
- population of Ireland fell from 8.2 million to 4.4 million
5
Q
why were potatoes the main crops produced in Ireland?
A
- because by 1841, at least half of the land in Ireland was divided into plots of five acres or less. The small size of the plots meant potato became the main crop - it required half the area wheat did. However, small plots meant small rent so many landlords evicted their tenants so they could merge small plots together and make their farms more efficient.
6
Q
What were the main issues of having Westminster run Ireland in the 19th century
A
- Irish economy was very different
- Ireland didn’t want British control
- Religious divide
- Westminster did not understand Irish problems due to geographical divide.
7
Q
Gladstone’s Irish Land Act (first one)
A
- 1870
- introduced the principle of fair rent
- made provision for compensation to be paid to tenants at the end of their lease if improvements had been made.
- Secured fixity of tenure as long as tenants paid their rent. (known as the Ulster custom)
8
Q
strengths of Gladstone’s 1870 Land Act
A
- compensation was paid to tenants giving up their holding (if improvements were made)
- it demonstrated a shift in attitude from Westminster towards Ireland
- The Ulster custom provided stability to tenants
- arranged for loans to be made available for tenants to purchase land.
9
Q
weaknesses of Gladstone’s 1870 Land Act
A
- the fair rent clause was of limited value as it failed to define what was meant by a fair rent.
- landlords had the power to raise the rent as they pleased and then evict the tenants for non-payment.
- the cost of buying land was still too high for most tenants.
- many landlords felt threatened and resisted attempts by tenants to purchase their land.
10
Q
what were the consequences of lack of action from government to help struggling ireland?
A
- The land wars
- the land league
- violence and coercion
11
Q
the land wars
A
due to a series of poor harvests, the price of wheat fell and profits for farmers plummeted resulting in their eviction. This led to the ‘land wars’ where Irish peasants demanded reductions in radical areas, redistribution of land.
12
Q
the land league
A
- founded in 1879 by Michael Davitt a member of the Fenian Brotherhood.
- The hard pressed tenant farmers flocked to join. The aim of this new pressure group was to reform the land tenure system and gain security for tenant farmers and smallholders.
- The land league centralised the issue and established an organised movement as many Irish workers boycotted rent paying.
13
Q
violence and coercion (as a consequence of lack of govt. action towards Ireland)
A
- In order to achieve justice for tenant farmers Davitt’s land league organised legal demonstrations. the demonstrations centred their demand on fair rent, fixity of tenure, and free sale of the right of occupancy.
- However, in some areas agitation spilled over into intimidation and violence.
- As the number of evictions rose and to ratchet up the pressure up the pressure on the government Parnell called for decisive action against the Irish landlords and a campaign of obstructionism to delay the normal process of passing legislature through parliament.
14
Q
Gladstone’s reaction and legislation 1881 - 1886
A
- 1881 land Act
- 1881 coercion act
- 1882 arrears act
15
Q
Gladstone’s Land Act (second one)
A
- Passed in 1881 in response to increased Irish tensions
- Land courts were set up to establish fair rent and both tenants and landowners were bound by the courts decisions.
- The rent was to be fixed for 15 years and the tenant was safe from eviction as long as they paid rent.
- the rent could not be increased against a tenants improvements.
16
Q
Coercion Act
A
- Passed by Gladstone in 1881.
- Allowed anyone suspected of involvement in illegal activities to be imprisoned without trial
17
Q
Arrears Act
A
- passed in 1882 by Gladstone.
- the government settled the current arrears of rents of all tenants so to stop pressure from the Land League.
17
Q
how successful was Gladstone’s 1881 Land Act
A
- it did not help the thousands of tenants who were already in arrears and there was still no clear defenition of ‘fair rent’.
- however, it was a large step forward in enhancing tenant farmer’s rights and levelling out the power imbalance that existed between tenants and landlords at the time. And as a result of it rent decreased on average by 20% in the 1880s
- overall: successful
17
Q
how successful was Gladstone’s 1881 coercion act
A
- the act further angered the land league. The legislation was also held up by excessive filibustering of the home rule MPs.
- overall: unsuccessful
17
Q
how successful was Gladstone’s 1882 arrears act
A
- solved the main weakness of the 1881 Land Act as it took away existing debt of tenant farmers.
- overall: successful
17
Q
what were the phoenix park murders
A
- on may 6th 1882 Frederick cavendish, the chief secretary for Ireland, and Thomas Burke, the under-secretary were murdered while walking in phoenix park in Dublin. The assassinations were carried out by an extremist group formed within the Fenians. Parnell denounced the murders but vicious attacks continued across the country.
- the phoenix park murders led to the fall of the Kilmainham agreement after just 4 days.
17
Q
Kilmainham treaty
A
A treaty between Gladstone and Parnell that agreed that government would settle the current arrears of rents of all tenants on condition that Parnell denounce the violence and end rent strikes. The agreement would last only 4 day in response to the Phoenix Park murders.
18
Q
What arguably motivated government to solve the issue of Home Rule
A
- Fenianism and the rise of nationalism
- influence of Isaac Butt
- Gladstone’s early failures
- The onset of the depression
- impact of pressure groups
- role of Parnell
19
Q
How did Fenianism and the rise of Irish Nationalism motivate government to act over the issue of Home Rule?
A
- Gladstone’s reforms were directed at supported fenian demands by satisfying Irish grievances, however, the majority of Irish individuals were still dissatisfied with the government and were still oppressed. this influenced government to act as the oppressed were easily targeted by extremist groups who would whip up anti-British sentiment and nationalism. This growing nationalist attitude made it increasingly difficult for government to ignore.
20
How did the influence of Isaac Butt motivate government to act over the issue of Home Rule?
Isaac Butt set up the Home government association to work towards a federal solution with a separate parliament in Dublin. In 1874, the general election returned 59 Irish MPs on a Home Rule platform. Isaac Butt's establishment of an organised political party meant home rule MPs now had influence in parliament, which arguably led to the influencing of legislature such as the 1881 land act and Home rule acts.
21
How did Gladstone's early failures motivate government to act over the issue of Home Rule?
- Gladstone's legislation had been bold and innovative, in that it challenged protestant ascendancy. but in practical terms it did not satisfy the Irish people. The 1870 Land Act was seriously flawed and left many Irish people with the view that independence was the only answer. This influenced government's actions as the 1870 Land Act left many tenant farmers with the feeling that independence was the only solution, this put pressure on Gladstone to produce significant reform.
22
How did the onset of the Great Depression motivate government to act over the issue of home rule
- There was an increase in economic and social distress. As the effects of the depression were experienced there was an increase in the number of evictions. Also, opportunities for Irish immigrant workers in England and Scotland had dried up. The return of many of these men to Ireland increased anti-British sentiment. The increased anti-British sentiment among farmers and immigrant workers meant there was increased pressure on Gladstone's government to produce a legislature providing some form of devolution.
23
24
25
Gladstone's first Home Rule
- proposed in 1886
- proposed to create an Irish parliament which would go to this new parliament, not Westminster. The British government would retain power over things like war, trade and foreign policy, as well as keeping control of the police in Ireland
- In June 1886, after 2 months of debate, MPs voted on the bill. It was defeated by a margin of 30 votes (with 92 liberal rebellions). This forced Gladstone to resign as PM.
26
what happened to the liberal party after the failure of the 1886 Home rule bill
- After the failure of his home rule bill Gladstone was forced to resign as PM and call a fresh election. The election was a disaster for the liberal party, they lost 127 seats and also saw their party spit - Lord Hartington led a break away group of liberals known as the liberal unionists. The group had 77 MPs elected in the general election. They chose to work with the Tories.
27
Gladstone's second home rule bill
- proposed in 1893
- In the general election of 1892, the liberals were able to put together a government with the help of 81 Irish MPs.
- Gladstone's 1893 Home Rule bill stated that there would still be an Irish assembly in Dublin, but 80 Irish MPs would also be elected to Westminster. This was so that Gladstone could keep close ties between London and Ireland.
28
What happened to Gladstone's 1893 Home Rule bill?
- The bill went into the commons in 1893 and this time passed by 347 - 304. However, the House of Lords (Conservative dominated) vetoed the bill with only 41 in favour of the bill and 419 against.
- As a result of this Gladstone resigns once and for all.
29
Name the main actions of Salisbury's government (creation of conservative laws and the removal of liberal laws) from 1885-1903 regarding Ireland.
1885 - Salisbury ends the unpopular coercion acts
1885 - Ashbourne Act
1887 - Crimes Act
1903 - Wyndham land act
30
why did Salisbury remove the coercion act?
- Salisbury ended the coercion acts, which Gladstone had used to arrest and detain members of the Land League. The coercion acts had allowed the police to detain suspects without charging them with a crime. The conservative government got rid of this as part of their 'killing with kindness' policy. It also resolved tensions with radical violent protesters. Salisbury also wanted to appear, to an extent, pro-Ireland as to retain Irish Nationalist Party's (IPP) support.
31
why did Salisbury introduce the Ashbourne act 1885 (and what was it)?
- The Ashbourne Act created a fund of £5 million of government money, from which any Irish tenant farmer could borrow cash to buy their land. They could then pay the money back in monthly instalments, with a relatively affordable rate of 4%. This act was another example of the conservatives successful 'killing with kindness' policies. Salisbury also believed a stronger Irish economy combined with increased living standards would result in decreased support for Home rule.
32
what were the 1887 Crimes Act and why did salisbury pass it?
- The Crimes Act allows agrarian issues to be tried without a jury. Boycotting and resisting eviction were made criminal offences. It also allowed the lord Lieutenant of Ireland to decide to ban any organisation he decided was dangerous. Salisbury believed this would make it harder for protests to be effective and he believed it would slow down the momentum of the Home Rule movement. It also helped him regain support from the aristocracy.
33
what was the 1903 Wyndham land act and why did salisbury pass it?
- the Wyndham land act provided a government £86 million fund to land purchasing. The government paid the difference between the price offered by tenants and the price demanded by the landlord. Loans were also now only 3.25% interest, making it cheaper for peasant farmers to borrow. This act was another example of the conservatives successful 'killing with kindness' policies. Salisbury also believed a stronger Irish economy combined with increased living standards would result in decreased support for Home rule.
34
who was arguably responsible for the failure of home rule?
- Gladstone
- Parnell and the Irish Nationalists
- Conservatives
- Liberals and liberal unionists
