Notes for Irish agitation from an A* student
Covers the whole chapter
Includes: Irish volunteers, Society of United Irishmen, Tithe Wars, Repeal Association, Young Ireland, Irish Republican Brotherhood, Home Rule League, Irish Parliamentary Party, Orange Order, Ulster Union Party, Easter Rising
How effective was Irish agitation before 1870?
Irish Volunteers
American revolution (1775-83)
- Due to perceived shared experience of oppression under British rule
- The fact many Irishmen and women had emigrated to American colonies
- Educated on republicanism
- Inspired by the success of the Americans in standing up against British gov
- ‘Encouraged growth of a more thoughtful and forceful nationalist perspective’
French revolution
- Placed Ireland in a vulnerable position; use Ireland as a staging port for an attack
As a reaction loyal spirited protestants formed themselves into volunteer units of militia
Militia established army of citizens rather than professional soldiers, raised during emergency to
supplement the regular army
Irish Volunteers established in Belfast in 1778, by 1782 they’d gained 60,000 members
Interpretations:
- Declaration of loyalty to Britain defending it borders against potential attack
- Demonstration of patriotic sentiment, beginning to challenge British authority
IV meet regularly for drills, parades and debating societies to discuss politics e.g., Act 1720
declaring the right of Britain to legislate for Ireland and the limitations imposed on Irish parliament
as a result
Growing frustration to the Act of 1720 as Ireland felt powerful with their militia and viewed Britain
as weak due to their reduced power after the American war
Advocate for greater legislative independence = Henry Grattan
Grattan was a lawyer, 1775 became MP in the Dublin Parliament
Speeches demanded that Ireland be granted it rightful status as an independent nation under the
same crown as Britain
1782 Volunteers in Ulster held a meeting at Dungannon’s parish church where they passed
resolutions demanding legislative independence for the Irish parliament
British reaction eager to conciliate Ireland after humiliating loss of American colonies
(imperialism) therefore conceded greater autonomy to the Irish parliament t
Constitution of 1782 repealed the 1720 Act and reduced Britain’s control over legislation in Ireland
to a right of veto (allows Ireland to block legislation it does not agree with)
Mutiny Act
Irish volunteers secured greater legal political influence for Irishmen
However, Irish gov was still under the control of Lord Lieutenant, British administration still held
significant power over Irish affairs
IV held a second convention in Dublin 1783 to address desire for a more representative parliament
and that the influence of Lord Lieutenant would be mitigated
Parliament refused their reform plans and IV were unwilling to use force
Failure led to the decline of the Irish Volunteers
Society of United Irishmen
Young protestant Theobald Wolfe Tone in favour of a substantially reformed Irish parliament
directly elected by the people without the influence of the British Crown
Society of United Irishmen founded in Belfast 1791 dedicated to such political agenda
Demands set out in manifesto 1794
Ireland to be divided into 300 parliamentary constituency equal in position
, IRISH NATIONALISM: FROM AGITATION TO CIVIL WAR
Every man should have the vote
Argued for additional reform to ensure better representation of the Irish population so believed
further catholic emancipation would be necessary as the Irish population was predominately that
faith
Due to the French revolution Britain was resistant in extending further power to Ireland
In reaction United Irishmen adopted more aggressive tactics
1796 Tone negotiated a deal with France for an invasion of 14,000 men to land in Bantry Bay to
eject continuing British occupation – poor weather prevented the landing
The 1798 Uprising:
- Continuation of British domination despite the 1782 constitution forced a more determined
spirit, reinforced by a growing demand for catholic rights
- 1797 200,000 United Irishmen and French alliance = strong position
- Tone coordinated new uprising in May 1798 with 15,000 fighting men
- Aim = sever Irelands connection with Britain and achieve and independent state
- Uprising was FAILURE as poorly coordinated, failure of French support
- British force secured victory at Vinegar Hill with more than 20,000 soldiers
- Tone was held in custody and chose to commit suicide rather than face British justice
Significance transformed the future of Ireland, attempted to secure greater independence but
ultimately drew Ireland closer to Britain
Result Ireland was in the interest of Britain’s strategic security as the ‘back door’ Brit needed the
country to be properly administrated.
1801 Act of Union formally passed making Ireland a more integral part of the British state
Robert emmet organised the 1803 storming of Dublin castle – failed attempt at rebellion. Links to
1798 failed uprising
Act of Union
1829 catholic emancipation
The Tithe Wars
Union left lingering resentment that Irelands political autonomy had been removed by a foreign
power
Existing laws had been modified by the new authority e.g., tithes
Tithes a tax of 10% on produce or earning that was paid to Protestant Church of Ireland
Caused resentment amongst Catholics as 75% of the Irish population were catholic yet they were all
having to pay a tithe toward the Protestant church; a church which they had no association to.
1823 Tithe Composition Act: new legislation passed by the British extending payment to include
pastureland as well as tillage land, thereby increasing the amount due and extending the tithe to
include more farmers
Antagonised farmers: primary a reaction to the requirement to pay the tithe but was also seen in
Ireland as example of British oppression when political agitation was growing over catholic
emancipation
Methods: passive resistance, a boycott of payment beginning in 1830 Kilkenny
Context: following 1830 saw a period of agricultural depression. Due to economic difficulty the
additional requirement of paying the controversial tithe ignited the wave of protest towards the
tax. Particularly due to the recent political success of catholic emancipation.
By 1833 there were 22 counties who boycotted payments, arrears amounted to £1million
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