Why were the Penal Laws and reforms significant before 1793?
Penal Laws 1691
Catholics could not:
• Vote
• Buy/inherit land from a Protestant
• Hold military rank or public office
• Convert Protestants to Catholicism – this was an executable offence
• Intermarry with Protestants; if children had been born out of previous unions they
must be brought up Protestant
• Receive a religious education in Catholic theology; this was banned, as was sending
children abroad for such education
Catholics must:
• Operate the system of gavelkind for inheritance – leads to a monoculture (one crop
that everyone’s growing – potatoes were quick and very filling). Designed to keep
Catholics economically weak
Economic – buy/inherit land, Gavelkind, jobs
Political – vote, hold office
Social – education, marriage, parents’ choice, faith
Why was there a Protestant Ascendancy?
• Encourage the spread of Protestantism – synonymous with pro-British attitudes
• Control Catholic population by making them powerless
• From Protestant perspective: to preserve privileged position in society
If these are the causes, what would have to happen to end it? Protestants in Ireland would
have to see Catholics as less of a threat. Additionally, there would have to be a decrease in
faith contributing to all decision making. As well as Protestants in Ireland being willing to
give up their power.
Consequences of Protestant Ascendancy: for Catholics?
- Cannot change laws in favour because Catholics are not the law makers, and cannot
vote against it. (no representation / autonomy / restriction of employment
opportunities)
- Cannot own land – poverty rises as Catholics must pay whatever rent the Protestants
choose
- Polarisation increases as does resentment – led to more power being taken from
Catholics as Protestants were scared, but also nationalistic (wanting more power for
Irish Protestants)
Consequences for Protestants?
- Anglo-Irish feelings of Nationalism – those such as Henry Flood and the Earl of
Charlemont pushed for the 1774 Oath of Allegiance (allowed Catholics and
Protestants sects outside the Established Church, to declare their loyalty to king
George III. No specific benefits but chance start breaking down anti-Catholic
, Depth Study: Towards Emancipation 1774-1830
sentiments (revolving around the perceptions of their trustworthiness and loyalty).
Not an Oath of Supremacy (which Catholics would not be able to swear to as they
also have allegiance to the Pope).
The Catholic Relief Acts
CONTEXT: American War of Independence after 1775, combined with France declaring war
on Britain in 1778 = British politicians wanted to preserve order in Ireland and maintain
good relationship
- Irish MP Luke Gardiner proposed Catholic Relief Bill – came in June 1778
- The Act allowing the acquisition of leases up to 999 years – and stopped Gavelkind
(ends process of subdivision)
- The motivation for the act was less about principled determination to improve the
conditions the Irish Catholics and more about securing Ireland for the empire and
expanding size of army intended to enlist 10,000 Irish Catholics
CONTEXT: 1782 Constitution, Irish Volunteers campaigning for more rights. Whenever the
Protestants began to agitate,
- The second relief act 1982 (also by Gardiner) allowed the purchase of land (not in
parliamentary boroughs) – this often was the worst, least fertile land
- Progressive as encouraged independence through land-ownership improved
education
- This was also motivated by British security to isolate the newly created Irish
Volunteers
CONTEXT: the United Irishmen (Protestants and Catholics) created as well as creation of
Irish Committee = more cohesive threat
- 1792 – Right to practice law
- 1793 – right to vote and hold military posts (this was so that Britain could create a
larger army to fight France
British Intentions
A pattern emerged among attempts to restore Catholic rights at moments of wider threat,
however the Irish Volunteers were hardly a threat so the passage of two acts could suggest
further reforms were more acceptable. The strength of Anti- Catholicism was high. 1780
Gordon riots in London (anti-Catholic riots) killed 700 people large antipathy among
general British population, therefore elected representatives more likely to introduce relief
for other motives such as security. Although the British gave the Irish rights, there was no
acceptance in British values – this lack of acceptance in wider society show that the previous
measures aren’t affective or are not motivated by genuine intentions.
Anyone elected to Parliament must give the oath of supremacy – Catholics could not do this
and therefore cannot stand. NOT A LAW that says Catholics cannot stand in Parliament.
= Catholics are emboldened, but still limited
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