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Lecture notes Unit 36.2 - Ireland and the Union, c
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notes on The Irish land issue topic
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The Irish Land Issue 1870-82Introduction
● Question of land has been long standing in Irish history, continual antagonism
between those who owned the land and those who lived on it.
● Originates in the 17th century when much of native irish were dispossessed by
English colonists, became able to exert large influence over the Irish population.
● In the mid-19th century, an unequal balance developed, most of Ireland’s inhabitants
lived on small plots of land let to them by their landlord.
● Essentially was a one sided agreement, tenants could be charged extra, and had no
legal protection.
● Need to change became especially obvious following famine, did become more
lenient to tenants but still held landlords in favour.
● Post 1870, attempts were made to reduce tensions, however made increasingly
difficult by challenging economic conditions and growing US markets.
● Ended up weakening the position of Irish smallholders, hastened deterioration in
landlord-tenant relationships.
● Promoted significant protest, Land Wars, began in 1879 and lasted three years.
What was the significance of demands for Land Reform in 1870?
The significance of the Dublin Land Conference, 1870
● Question of land, highly important to the Irish, after the famine became increasingly
linked with Irish Nationalism, became a symbol of British oppression.
● Adopted by several nationalism groups, Young Ireland in 1848 and then the IRB, in
1858.
● Therefore became vitally important to British politicians seeking to help Ireland
pacified, following the fenian uprising in 1897, when Gladstone set up his first
administration in 1868, he aimed to settle the broader Irish question, by solving land
issues.
● Creation of the Irish Tenant League in 1850, a nationwide attempt to secure “three
f’s”, fair rent, fixity of tenure, freedom for tenants to sell their interests: aims to
empower tenant farmers and equalise the currently one-sided relationship.
○ The fixed rents - meant landlords could not increase the amount they had
agreed for no reason.
○ The fixity of tenure - a tenant could not be evicted if he had paid rent, gave
tenants a greater sense of security.
● The League was short-lived, ending only 9 years after it was set up, but it was the
first coordinated attempt by Ireland’s agricultural community to secure greater rights,
and demonstrated an improved ability to mobilise as a unified front.
● However this collapse did not mark the end of demands for land reform in Ireland,
growth of farmers clubs which sporadically demanded change
● In the 1866 general election, unofficial clubs campaigned across the country in an
attempt to recreate aTenant League with Isaac Butt as the leader, and did see a new
Tenant League formally founded in 1869.
, ● By 1870, Tenant League gained a following, Gladstone set about creating legislation
to settle the land question and please its performers.
● The Dublin Land Conference 1870 - hearing rumours Gladstone was preparing a bill,
Irish tenant farmers were keen to influence it to ensure it had the measure they
wanted.
● On the 2nd February 1870, a national land conference was organised in Dublinas a
forum where farmers and interested parties could openly state their hope. Purposely
made a public event
● Attendees visited from all across Ireland, even from the better off Ulster farms.
● The event lasted for two days and focused on the issue of tenant rights, significant
opposition to unfair eviction, unless rent had not been paid.
● The overall outcome was the wish to extend the Ulster Custom, specifically their
rights of fixity of tenure and freedom to sell their interest, in hope that every tenant
farmer would have strong ground for legal protection and long-term security.
● However the specific impact of the conference is hard to quantify, although in terms
of those who attended and the manner of its timing, it likely influenced the
preparation of Gladstone's legislation, which was introduced into parliament
mid-february.
The reasons for the Land Act 1870 and its significance.
● The Land Act 1870, was the product of Gladstone's broader attempt to promote a
more harmonious relationship between Ireland and Britain.
● Religious tensions were decreasing, and now Gladstone aimed to mirror this with
Land, backed by others in his party.
● Was motivated in part by this need to remove the antagonism in Ireland but was also
guided by a “deep moral principle” (sure..) that Irish deserved justice.
● The final bill introduced on 15 February 1870 proposed that;
○ Ulster custom was recognised in Law everywhere it was agreed that it existed
○ Compensation was to be offered for tenants who had been evicted for
anything other than non-payment of rents and for any improvements to the
land that the tenants might have made.
○ The protections afforded by the legislation would not apply to tenants who
hold leases for more than 31 years since it was assumed that sufficient
protection already existed for those tenants under the terms of their leases.
○ Any tenants who wished to buy their holding could do so and would be able to
borrow ⅔ of the price from the government and pay this back at 5% interest.
(known as The Bright Clause)
● Bill was generally well received in parliament and it passed its second reading by a
majority of 442 to 11 in the commons.
● Bill was passed on 1st August 1870.
● Broke new grounds, first time the British government has intervened in Irish Land
affairs on behalf of the tenants, all prev. Legislation had benefited the landlords.
● Therefore was well received by the farming community in Ireland who anticipated
further change following this.
● However, it did not have an immediate significant impact on the lives of the tenants,
because although it was well intended it did not really change much.
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