Irish Question 1845-86 Flashcards
(28 cards)
When did the ‘potato blight’ occur?
1845
What was the population of Ireland before and after the crisis?
8 million
6 million (after)
Due to death and emigration
What were most emigrants?
Young-having a lasting effect on politics leaving behind older generations.
British response to famine
1) Repeal Corn Laws (Tarrifs protecting exporters from Britain but making food alternatives expensive)
2) Sent troops to counter unrest
Negative aspects of UK gov. response to famine?
1) Allowed exports of food to continue
2) Repealing laws didn’t go far enough
3) Deploying troops worsened case for British control of Ireland
IRB
Irish Republican Brotherhood founded 1858
When was the IRB founded?
1858
In what form did the IRB seek support from the US?
Weapons (from the civil war)
Money
How many supporters did the IRB have in 1860?
80k
When was the attempted insurrection by the IRB?
1867
What did the Manchester Martyrs do?
3 IRB members who attacked a police van carrying IRB prisoners from the insurrection of that year (1867) all 3 executed.
When was the official Act of Union between Britain and Ireland?
1800
Among other things what were the main provisions for the Act of Union 1800?
1) Abolishment of Irish Parliament
2) Est. of Anglican Church as state church (Until 1869)
What Acts aimed to address the issues of tenant/ owner relations in Ireland?
By whom introduced?
Land Act 1870
Land Act 1881
Gladstone
What did the Land Reforms Acts of 1870 and 1881 provide for?
Rights to sell on tenancy as a business.
What was Daniel O’Connell’s main demand?
A repeal of the Act of Union 1800
Who was Daniel O’Connell?
Irish MP (1775-1847)
Reasons for not allowing Home Rule?
1) Believed it would lead to independence
2) Ireland used as staging ground for military ops against UK mainland
3) UK imported large raw materials from Ireland.
What did Gladstone say regarding the UK’s role with Ireland?
‘To pacify Ireland’
‘A liberal crusade’
What conspired to make it difficult for Gladstone to enact reform for Ireland?
Other Liberals (actually led to a split in party)
Cross party MP’s and the HoL
What Act was passed to address the issue of religion in Ireland and by whom?
Provisions?
Irish Church Act 1869
Gladtsone
Disestablished the Anglican Church of Ireland
How did Gladtsone manage to successfully pass the Irish Church Act 1869 despite much resistance?
1) Encouraged QV to allow more liberal peers in HoL
2) HoL, facing that prospect simply allowed the bill to pass.
How was Gladtsone’s Irish Church Act 1869 received?
1) RC’s generally approved
2) But RC’s weren’t as pleased as he thought they would be
3) Seen as long overdue
4) Didn’t come into effect until 1871
What were the issues with the Land Reform Act of 1870?
1) Badly worded so tenants were still being evicted.
2) Landlords could still charge as much as they liked.
