Irish Nationalism From 1850 to 1900
A Level History- Irish History- Ireland Under The Union (1800-1900)-
Revision Notes
The Fenian Uprising and the Irish Republican Brotherhood
● The Fenians (also known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood or IRB)
were a fairly popular republican group, with approximately 50,000
members. Their newspaper, “The Irish People”, also enjoyed a
noteworthy level of popularity.
● However, the IRB uprising in 1867 still lacked popular support and was
easily put down by the British government.
● The Catholic Church contributed greatly to the failure in 1867. The
Vatican had condemned oath-bound societies (such as the IRB) in
1864, leading to a reduction in support. Archbishop Cullen also
condemned the IRB rebels as “godless revolutionaries” (Cullen).
● However, later that year, four men were executed after a botched
breakout from a prison van. The execution of the “Manchester Martyrs”
increased sympathy for the IRB in Great Britain and Ireland.
● The violence of 1867, as well as the violence of the Land War
(1879-1882), made Gladstone realise “the vast importance of the Irish
controversy” (Gladstone), leading to significant reforms in relation to the
land and the Church of Ireland.
Gladstone’s Reforms
● After witnessing the violence from the Fenians (1867) and Davitt’s Land
League (from 1879), Gladstone said “My mission is to pacify Ireland”
(Gladstone).
● In 1868, Gladstone introduced the Irish Church Act to disestablish the
Church of Ireland. 6000 farmers were able to purchase land that had
previously been held by the Church. £10 million of the proceeds was
, donated to the clergy of the Church of Ireland as compensation whilst
£13 million was given to secular causes.
● In 1870, Gladstone introduced his First Land Act. This protected certain
practices like “Ulster Custom”. However, Lyons suggests that the Act
was merely of “symbolic significance” (Lyons) as it didn’t extend its help
to a wide enough section of society.
● Gladstone delivered the Second Land Act in 1881. The Act introduced
Land Courts which reduced rents by an average of 20%. In this way, the
Act went a long way in delivering the “3Fs” demanded by the Land
League: Fair rent, Free sale, and Fixity of tenure. However, once more,
there was significant contention as many believed that the Act did not
go far enough.
Isaac Butt and Home Rule
● Isaac Butt was President of the Amnesty Association from 1869, helping
to defend the Fenians in court after the 1867 attacks.
● In 1870, Butt established the Home Government Association to promote
Home Rule in Ireland. However, the group was never much more than a
middle-class talking group.
● The group achieved more success when it was restructured as the
Home Rule League in 1873. In the 1874 general election, the Home
Rule League won 59 seats. However, it should be noted that only
approximately 20 of these seats went to true Home Rulers. Butt was a
weak, passive, and ineffective leader. His success was surface-level,
and the League didn’t become truly successful until Parnell became
President in 1880.
Davitt, Parnell, and the Land Issue
● Parnell was passionate about delivering Home Rule in Ireland, but
recognised that the movement lacked support from the public. To
A Level History- Irish History- Ireland Under The Union (1800-1900)-
Revision Notes
The Fenian Uprising and the Irish Republican Brotherhood
● The Fenians (also known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood or IRB)
were a fairly popular republican group, with approximately 50,000
members. Their newspaper, “The Irish People”, also enjoyed a
noteworthy level of popularity.
● However, the IRB uprising in 1867 still lacked popular support and was
easily put down by the British government.
● The Catholic Church contributed greatly to the failure in 1867. The
Vatican had condemned oath-bound societies (such as the IRB) in
1864, leading to a reduction in support. Archbishop Cullen also
condemned the IRB rebels as “godless revolutionaries” (Cullen).
● However, later that year, four men were executed after a botched
breakout from a prison van. The execution of the “Manchester Martyrs”
increased sympathy for the IRB in Great Britain and Ireland.
● The violence of 1867, as well as the violence of the Land War
(1879-1882), made Gladstone realise “the vast importance of the Irish
controversy” (Gladstone), leading to significant reforms in relation to the
land and the Church of Ireland.
Gladstone’s Reforms
● After witnessing the violence from the Fenians (1867) and Davitt’s Land
League (from 1879), Gladstone said “My mission is to pacify Ireland”
(Gladstone).
● In 1868, Gladstone introduced the Irish Church Act to disestablish the
Church of Ireland. 6000 farmers were able to purchase land that had
previously been held by the Church. £10 million of the proceeds was
, donated to the clergy of the Church of Ireland as compensation whilst
£13 million was given to secular causes.
● In 1870, Gladstone introduced his First Land Act. This protected certain
practices like “Ulster Custom”. However, Lyons suggests that the Act
was merely of “symbolic significance” (Lyons) as it didn’t extend its help
to a wide enough section of society.
● Gladstone delivered the Second Land Act in 1881. The Act introduced
Land Courts which reduced rents by an average of 20%. In this way, the
Act went a long way in delivering the “3Fs” demanded by the Land
League: Fair rent, Free sale, and Fixity of tenure. However, once more,
there was significant contention as many believed that the Act did not
go far enough.
Isaac Butt and Home Rule
● Isaac Butt was President of the Amnesty Association from 1869, helping
to defend the Fenians in court after the 1867 attacks.
● In 1870, Butt established the Home Government Association to promote
Home Rule in Ireland. However, the group was never much more than a
middle-class talking group.
● The group achieved more success when it was restructured as the
Home Rule League in 1873. In the 1874 general election, the Home
Rule League won 59 seats. However, it should be noted that only
approximately 20 of these seats went to true Home Rulers. Butt was a
weak, passive, and ineffective leader. His success was surface-level,
and the League didn’t become truly successful until Parnell became
President in 1880.
Davitt, Parnell, and the Land Issue
● Parnell was passionate about delivering Home Rule in Ireland, but
recognised that the movement lacked support from the public. To
