The role of the British Government was the most significant factor in
determining the extent of success of Irish nationalism from 1800-1850.
How far do you agree with this proposition? (40)
The role of the British government was the most important factor in
determining the successes and failures of Irish nationalism from 1800 to 1850.
Although factors like the quality of nationalist leadership, the support of the
Church and general public support were significant, they were always subject
to the political realities at Westminster.
The Government was essential in the campaign for Catholic
Emancipation, seen when Grattan led the Patriots unsuccessfully to demand
emancipation in 1821 and 1826. Peel and King George III were determined to
prevent this out of a sense of obligation to the Church of England, and
nationalist attempts failed. This led to O’Connell commenting “twenty years
have passed away and still we are slaves” in 1821. However, the government
weakened in 1827 when Canning became Prime Minister, making
emancipation seem possible. Canning supported emancipation, and
opponents (including Wellington and Peel) refused to join his cabinet.
O’Connell was able to exploit these divisions to achieve emancipation. This
was made even easier when Wellington became Prime MInister in 1828
following Canning’s death, when Canning’s supporters resigned from
government. Furthermore, Russell repealed the Test and Corporations Act in
1828, making the issue of Catholic emancipation harder to ignore. Pre-1820,
any Emancipation Bills had been rejected by a strong majority. However, the
1829 Roman Catholic Emancipation Act was made possible by widespread
support from the Conservatives and the Whigs, and it passed with a 2:1
majority in the House of Lords. Even opponents of the bill were able to retain a
powerful position for the British government by increasing the freehold
qualification from forty shillings to ten pounds per household, reducing the
Irish electorate to a sixth of its original size. Therefore, it’s clear that Catholic
, Emancipation would not have been possible without both the weaknesses and
the concessions of the British Government.
However, other factors (like the strength of O’Connell’s leadership) also
contributed to the success of Catholic Emancipation. O’Connell formed the
Catholic Association in 1823, and successfully spread his support base to the
peasantry classes by introducing Catholic rent (one penny/month membership
of the association). This increased mass support for emancipation, as well as
raising funds for the campaign. £20,000 were raised in this way within nine
months. O’Connell’s success in the 1828 County Clare election was also
significant, where he won by 2057 votes to 982. This put pressure on the
British government to deliver emancipation. O’Connell’s brinkmanship
threatened civil war, and he spoke “with two voices”, encouraging his
supporters to be peaceful whilst attacking the British government more
aggressively. This method achieved Catholic Emancipation. The support of the
Roman Catholic Church was also important in this success, as it provided
legitimacy and support to the campaign since parish priests spread
O’Connell’s message and supported him in the 1826 election. The priests also
supported the campaign by helping to collect Catholic Rent. £30,000 were
collected between 1826 and 1829. As a result, O’Connell was able to deliver a
“bloodless revolution” in the form of Catholic Emancipation.
Therefore, it’s clear that leadership and the support of the public and the
Church were important in the success of delivering Catholic Emancipation.
However, the weaknesses of the British Government were still the most
significant factor, as they provided the opportunity for the nationalists to act.
The role of the British government continued to be important during the
era of reform and repeal. O’Connell wanted to push for repeal of the Act of
Union after delivering Catholic Emancipation, but was unable to do so
because of a strong, united government led by the Whigs. For example, when
determining the extent of success of Irish nationalism from 1800-1850.
How far do you agree with this proposition? (40)
The role of the British government was the most important factor in
determining the successes and failures of Irish nationalism from 1800 to 1850.
Although factors like the quality of nationalist leadership, the support of the
Church and general public support were significant, they were always subject
to the political realities at Westminster.
The Government was essential in the campaign for Catholic
Emancipation, seen when Grattan led the Patriots unsuccessfully to demand
emancipation in 1821 and 1826. Peel and King George III were determined to
prevent this out of a sense of obligation to the Church of England, and
nationalist attempts failed. This led to O’Connell commenting “twenty years
have passed away and still we are slaves” in 1821. However, the government
weakened in 1827 when Canning became Prime Minister, making
emancipation seem possible. Canning supported emancipation, and
opponents (including Wellington and Peel) refused to join his cabinet.
O’Connell was able to exploit these divisions to achieve emancipation. This
was made even easier when Wellington became Prime MInister in 1828
following Canning’s death, when Canning’s supporters resigned from
government. Furthermore, Russell repealed the Test and Corporations Act in
1828, making the issue of Catholic emancipation harder to ignore. Pre-1820,
any Emancipation Bills had been rejected by a strong majority. However, the
1829 Roman Catholic Emancipation Act was made possible by widespread
support from the Conservatives and the Whigs, and it passed with a 2:1
majority in the House of Lords. Even opponents of the bill were able to retain a
powerful position for the British government by increasing the freehold
qualification from forty shillings to ten pounds per household, reducing the
Irish electorate to a sixth of its original size. Therefore, it’s clear that Catholic
, Emancipation would not have been possible without both the weaknesses and
the concessions of the British Government.
However, other factors (like the strength of O’Connell’s leadership) also
contributed to the success of Catholic Emancipation. O’Connell formed the
Catholic Association in 1823, and successfully spread his support base to the
peasantry classes by introducing Catholic rent (one penny/month membership
of the association). This increased mass support for emancipation, as well as
raising funds for the campaign. £20,000 were raised in this way within nine
months. O’Connell’s success in the 1828 County Clare election was also
significant, where he won by 2057 votes to 982. This put pressure on the
British government to deliver emancipation. O’Connell’s brinkmanship
threatened civil war, and he spoke “with two voices”, encouraging his
supporters to be peaceful whilst attacking the British government more
aggressively. This method achieved Catholic Emancipation. The support of the
Roman Catholic Church was also important in this success, as it provided
legitimacy and support to the campaign since parish priests spread
O’Connell’s message and supported him in the 1826 election. The priests also
supported the campaign by helping to collect Catholic Rent. £30,000 were
collected between 1826 and 1829. As a result, O’Connell was able to deliver a
“bloodless revolution” in the form of Catholic Emancipation.
Therefore, it’s clear that leadership and the support of the public and the
Church were important in the success of delivering Catholic Emancipation.
However, the weaknesses of the British Government were still the most
significant factor, as they provided the opportunity for the nationalists to act.
The role of the British government continued to be important during the
era of reform and repeal. O’Connell wanted to push for repeal of the Act of
Union after delivering Catholic Emancipation, but was unable to do so
because of a strong, united government led by the Whigs. For example, when
