The Condition of Ireland & Anglo-irish Relations 1850-86 (complete)

Question 1

What was the Act of Union, 1800?

Answer 1

Pushed through Westminster parliament, bought an end to Irish parliament in Dublin

Question 2

Why were relationships between England & Ireland strained?

Answer 2

-Possibly due to Act of Union
-Ireland had serious economic issues + agricultural depression (1870/80s)
-Large % of poverty- mainly agrarian peasants, majority of IR population made poor living by renting small parcels of land from landlord class
-Famine; caused widespread poverty, increased resentment for British dominance

Question 3

How was land divided/managed in Ireland and why did this cause issues?

Answer 3

-Most land owned by Anglo-Irish Protestant landlords, who rented land to tenant farmers
-Landlords left management of estates in hands of agents; could be unscrupulous, turn tenants off of land w/out good reason.
-Casual sub-letting agreements between tenants= little security of tenure
-Caused small uneconomic land units

Question 4

Why were improvements on land not made?

Answer 4

Few improvements on smallholdings as fear existed that rents would be raised- land yield remained poor
Cycle made: impoverished land failed to give adequate crops, Irish peasant farmers unable to keep up w/ rent demands

Question 5

Why did the conditions of tenancy cause unrest and why were landlords viewed negatively?

Answer 5

Tenants poverty resulted in deep resentment against landowning class
Many landlords interested only in receiving rents not reinvesting in land to make it more productive
Landlords accused of changing extortionate rents, leaving eviction threat for non-payment to tenants
Negative view of landlords continued for many years
Irish Tenant League, made in 1850s, wanted clear rights for tenants through the 3 Fs

Question 6

What were the 3 Fs?

Answer 6

Created by the Irish Tenant League, in the 1850s
Fixity of tenure, Fair rents and Freedom to sell ‘interest’

Question 7

What was the Irish Land Bill/Act of 1870?

Answer 7

Gladstone wanted to achieve an equitable relationship between tenant and landlord.
tenant could claim compensation for improvements made to property if & when he decided to give up his right to property.
Proposed heavy fine for landlords carrying out evictions w/out just cause (only legal; non-payment of rent)
Bright’s clause: tenants allowed to borrow 2/3 of value of smallholdings from gov to buy interest, repay loan at 5% over 35–> never implemented due to fear of upsetting Whig landed interest

Question 8

What were the reactions to the Irish Land Act of 1870?

Answer 8

On the surface it appeared a sensible reform but failed to give tenants protection/satisfy landlords
Tenants:
-Failed to define what fair rent was. Landlords still had power to raise rents as they pleased, then evict for non-payment. No compensation for tenant eviction if they were in arrears. Cost of buying land too high for most tenants, even w/ loan scheme.
Landlords:
-Challenged Anglo-Irish/Protestant Ascendancy. Landlords felt threatened + resisted attempts from tenants wanting to buy their land. Land-owning Whigs felt attacked
Generally regarded as a failure- caused outbreaks of further unrest among tenants in rural areas

Question 9

What was the Coercion Act of 1870?

Answer 9

Response to negative reactions to Land Act
Gave police constables extensive powers to make arrests, destroyed positive aspects of reform

Question 10

What was the Irish Land League?

Answer 10

-Founded 1879 by Michael Davitt, Fenian Brotherhood member
-Funded by money from Irish-America supporters in USA
-Aim- reform land tenure system, gain security for tenant farmers + smallholders
-Charles Parnell presided over League

Question 11

Was there violence and coercion within the Land League?

Answer 11

-To get justice for tenant farmers, the League organised demonstrations using legal methods like mass meetings; centering their demand on fair rent, fixity of tenure, etc. Encouraged tenant farmers to withhold their rent.
-Some areas; agitation caused violence & intimidation, gangs supported tenants
-Davitt & Parnell didn’t wholly support violence, advised not to involve in criminal activity
-Landlords were boycotted

Question 12

How did Gladstone regard the Land League?

Answer 12

-Regarded Land League as a criminal conspiracy
-Was willing to accept non-payment of rents was due in part to genuine ‘distress’ but thought rest was a ‘conspiracy’

Question 13

Why was the Coercion Act of 1881 and what were its terms?

Answer 13

Escalating unrest & acts of lawlessness persuaded Gladstone coercion was needed but was reluctant to pursue this course of action again
1881- After Land Act, a Coercion Act was pushed through parliament, allowed anyone suspected of involvement in illegal activity to be imprisoned for indefinite periods w/out trial

Question 14

What were the provisions on the 1881 Land Act?

Answer 14

-Set up special Land Courts to establish fair rents & both landowner + tenant were bound by court’s decision
-Rent was to be fixed for 15 years & tenant was to be safe from eviction as longer as he paid rent
-Rent couldn’t be increased against a tenant’s improvements

Question 15

What were the main weaknesses of the 1881 Land Act?

Answer 15

Didn’t help thousands of the tenants who were already in arrears + still no definition of what fair rent was

Question 16

How were Gladstone and Parnell’s intentions/reactions with the Land Act 1881?

Answer 16

Gladstone hoped the act would outweigh negative effects of Coercion Act, address land tenure issues

Parnell saw the act as a victory for his acts of incessant protest + was even more determined to put pressure until Home Rule was implemented; encouraged tenants to still withhold rent, boycott new Land Court

Question 17

Why were Parnell & his followers arrested + what did this lead to?

Answer 17

-Oct 1881- Parnell + followers arrested under terms of Coercion Act , held in Kilmainham prison
-Land League was made illegal, when violence continued Gladstone organised compromise w/ Parnell- resulting in the Kilmainham Treaty

Question 18

What were the terms of the Kilmainham treaty?

Answer 18

Agreed the gov would settle current arrears of rents of all tenants (Arrears Act 1882) on terms Parnell would denounce violence & end rent strikes
Parnell was released in May 1882 as part of the bargain

Question 19

What set back the prospect of cooperation between Gladstone and the Home Rule Party?

Answer 19

The Phoenix Park murders, 1882 (Chief Secretary for Ireland + Permanent under-secretary were murdered by extremist nationalist group) which Parnell denounced, but he still lost some of his powers

Question 20

What was the evidence that the Land Act of 1881 was beginning to work?

Answer 20

-Rents were set at more affordable price
-Rents on average 20% lower, so price of land lower- easier for tenants to buy, assisted by gov loan schemes

Question 21

Who were the Fenians and what were their aims?

Answer 21

-Militant but romantic nationalists whose aim was to achieve an independent Ireland by forcing GB gov to repeal Act of Union, prepared to use violence to achieve their aims
-Seen as the political legacy of the famine

Question 22

Who were the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB)?

Answer 22

A secret society established 1858 to make Ireland an independent democratic republic

Question 23

In what way did the Fenians act & how did this cause differing opinions regarding them?

Answer 23

-1866; centre of Fenian activity moved to England, where there was significant Fenian support among Irish immigrant pop of Liverpool & Manchester.
-Feb 1867; young Fenian Thomas Kelly organises simultaneous rising in England + Ireland, ends in failure.
-This proves to be turning point in Anglo-Irish politics. Anti-Irish feeling in Britain (surfaced during Fenian unrest) led to some calls for tough gov measures introduced in Ireland, to suppress troublemakers.
-In line w/ emerging influences of liberalism & desire for more equal society in GB, others concerned to identify cause of violence & introduce reform to bring peace to Ireland.

-This latter view held by Gladstone who had been shocked by violence of movement, brought to his attention urgency of Irish situation

Question 24

What factors contributed to the emergence of Irish Home Rule on the political agenda?

Answer 24

-During his first ministry (1868-74) Gladstone’s reforms were directed at suppressing Fenian demands for repeal of the Union by satisfying Irish grievances

-Majority Catholic pop in Ireland remained dissatisfied; still poor & oppressed, were easy prey for violent extremists wanting to create anti-English feeling.

-Growing desire among the Irish to manage own affairs.

-Several other factors brought Irish Home Rule onto political agenda, made it increasingly difficult for Westminster government to ignore

Question 25

What was the influence of Isaac Butt on the Irish Home Rule movement?

Answer 25

-In many ways the Home Rule movement stemmed from initiatives of Isaac Butt, when he set up the 1870 Home Government Association (HGA), to work towards a separate parliament in Dublin, so that Ireland could run its internal affairs. -1873; Isaac Butt sets up Home Rule League, had a sufficiently wide-based support among Irish: a truly national organisation. -1874; general election returned 59 Irish MPs on Home Rule platform. The group formed a strong Irish nationalist/Home Rule Party, whose actions directed Irish politics for the next decade. -Butt= a moderate, believed in achieving political independence for Ireland through peaceful means, but his movement began to give way to a much tougher and less conciliatory group.

Question 26

Why did Gladstone fail to satisfy the Irish people during his first ministry (1870-74)?

Answer 26

-Even though Gladstone was unpopular among many of his own supporters w/ his Irish legislation, there was a view in Britain that Ireland had been dealt with quite generously. -His legislation had been bold & innovative; challenged Protestant Ascendancy -It did not however satisfy Irish people. -1870 Land Act in particular was a failure. Left increasing number of tenant farmers w/ feeling that independence from GB= only satisfactory solution

Question 27

How did the Great Depression impact Irish Home Rule efforts?

Answer 27

-Increase in economic + social distress due effects of depression, particularly in rural S of Ireland & increase in # of evictions. -Seething resentment among tenant farmers against GB dominance & system of land tenure. -Opportunities for itinerant Irish immigrant workers in England + Scotland dried up. The return of many disgruntled men to Ireland increased anti-British feeling + desire for separation. Many joined Davitt's Land League.

Question 28

What was the impact of pressure groups on the Home Rule movement?

Answer 28

Campaign by Land League of open protest against eviction + refusal to pay rents brought considerable pressure on Gladstone's new gov (1880) to introduce land reform. -Strengthened by Land League's loose alliance w/ Home Rule League, now led by Parnell who agitated in House for redress for evicted tenants. -Pressure contributed to Gladstone's major reform of Land Act, 1881.

Question 29

How did Charles Parnell as an individual impact the Home Rule movement?

Answer 29

-Home Rule movement needed a leader w/ his strength of purpose & dynamism. -His decision to cooperate w/ Land League was inspired + gave great momentum to Home Rule. -Skilful management of Irish MPs led to strong Irish Nationalist Party (IPP)—> held balance of power in Parliament. -Parnell’s leadership= major factor in finally persuading Gladstone to support Home Rule. -Parnell was the undisputed leader of Irish nationalism.

Question 30

Why was Gladstone’s government brought down & who came into power next?

Answer 30

-June 1885- Parnell + Irish Nationalists (disenchanted w/ Liberal lack of Irish progress) voted w/ Conservatives, brought Gladstone’s gov down . -Marquis of Salisbury formed minority Cons gov; could only survive w/ Irish Nationalist support, so called election Nov 1885.

Question 31

What did the Conservatives do while in power and how was this received?

Answer 31

-Policy of coercion ended , Land Purchase Act introduced; set aside £5 million to assist tenants to buy holdings from landlord. -Act was well received by tenant farmers, many took advantage of right to buy. -Parnell called on Irish immigrant pop in England + Scotland to vote for Cons, as he believed Salisbury may support Home Rule.

Question 32

What were the 1886 election results and what was the reason for this?

Answer 32

-The Liberals had majority of 86 over Conservatives, but the Irish Nationalists returned w/ 86 seats and again held powerful position betw the two main parties. -Dec; Gladstone dropped a bombshell - it was leaked to the press he now supported Home Rule. It proved to be one of the most momentous political decisions of 19th cent.

Question 33

Why was the Home Rule Bill of 1886 rejected and what were the impacts of this?

Answer 33

-Feb 1886; Gladstone, back as PM for 3rd time immediately introduced Home Rule Bill for Ireland. Was defeated by 343 votes to 313 & split Liberal Party. In Ireland & Irish politics = created the conditions for increasingly bitter divide betw those who wanted independence from GB & those who wanted Ireland to stay in Union.