3.2 - British reaction: from resistance to acceptance
Background:
- Growing demand for greater autonomy was an issue the British government were reluctant
to even consider
- Ireland seen as a crucial part of Britain’s imperial identity
- To think about extending greater power to Ireland was felt to be tantamount to dismantling
the empire - especially amongst Conservatives
- More liberal politicians recognised the need to be more accommodating, prevent political
aggression that might threaten British interests in Ireland
- So, in terms of policy, there was an attempt at moderate change both with the regard to
promoting reform and also to avoid encouraging greater discontent
- 80% were Catholic, in Britain the majority were Protestant - Britain’s relationship with
Ireland before 1774 had been divided due to religious attitudes. Lingering sense of injustice
amongst the Irish, especially Catholics, which successive governments would have to
contend with
- Sources of discontent was the Church of Ireland (Anglican) and the official Church rather
than the majority Catholic one
- Promotion of the Church was part of the broader Protestant ascendancy - gave them more
favourable opportunities than Catholics
- This church reflected the reality that many Catholics felt to be true - that they were
outsiders within their own country
- Discrimination and alienation were feelings that promoted ongoing discontent
- After 1774 this became a significant feature of Anglo-Irish relations - aggressive methods
that Irish nationalists and later unionist adopted to achieve their goals
Importance of Britain’s prime ministers and politicians:
- The changing relationship between Ireland and Britain was shaped first by Irish demands,
but also the attitudes of Britain’s politicians
- The gradual shift from determined control to acceptance of greater autonomy owes much
to the changing attitudes of the prime ministers
- Britain’s political establishment was increasingly realistic about the changing nature of
Anglo-Irish relations, sought to address these changes as effectively as it could in the
interest of Great Britain
- Changing attitudes had a lot to do with agitation and open rebellion from the Irish
Early agitation and rebellion in Ireland:
- Being part of an empire that spanned the globe, Ireland was susceptible to global
influences, this largely manifested itself through the manner in which British politicians
reacted to these influences
- American and French revolution very significant - they encouraged a greater and more
aggressive demand for political rights among Irish citizens, they forced British
parliamentarians to consider the dangers of the growing agitation in Ireland
- Loss of American colony made Britain realise what could be achieved if a nation was
prepared to act decisively
- The Americans were effectively fighting for the same principles that the Irish harboured
, - Defeat of British forces in 1783 sharpened the awareness of Britain - left Britain seeking a
way to mitigate the loss of one of its most important colonies and prevent further imperial
losses
Whig Government - William Pitt the Younger 1759-1806:
- The aftermath of the war saw the Tory government collapse, became a Whig government
that was anxious to soothe Irish opinion under William Pitt the Younger
- Emergence of Irish Volunteers and their demand for enhanced legislative powers for the
Dublin parliament was especially threatening
- Wanted the removal of legislative restrictions upon the Irish Parliament (imposed by
Poynings’ Law) - the war had shown the clear preference that British policy gave to British
businessmen at the expense of the Irish
- Solution was to repeal the Declaratory Act and modify Poynings’ Law in 1782 - to leave
Britain with only the power of veto - Constitution of 1782
- Ireland granted with its own Mutiny Act, greater control over armed forces
- Aim was to reduce Irish demands, done at a time when Britain were vulnerable
Catholic Relief Act 1793:
- Due to their vulnerability, Britain were willing to concede reform rather than risk losing
another colony
- Britain policy often directed by fears of greater consequences rather than a principled wish
to improve the experiences of those in Ireland
- Made apparent by the French revolution 1789, Pitt reasoned that to deny Irish Catholics
greater rights might motivate them to support the new French republic
- Growth of the United Irishmen and the efforts of the Catholic Committee in seeking redress
of the Penal Laws raised the issue of reform again - Britain willing to conciliate
- Catholic Committee sent a delegation to London 1793 to William Pitt the Younger about
reforming the anti-Catholic Penal Laws
- Agreed and encouraged the Irish parliament (technically autonomous but under British
influence) to pass the Relief Act in 1793, removing the majority of barriers to Catholics
except the right to hold public office
- British policy dictated largely by external circumstances rather than popular sympathy,
when Britain were in stronger positions it would not concede powers so readily
Progressive attitudes that were seemingly exhibited through the extension of greater
rights in Ireland were in reality borne from a stronger desire to protect British
interests. The aim was to grant a little to secure the whole. Early reform was a
pragmatic decision rather than a moral imperative.
Act of Union 1801:
- United Irishmen movement failed and made them more tightly bound to Britain through the
Act of Union
- Irish parliament was removed and the British parliament took direct control of Irish affairs,
although Irish representatives were permitted to 100 seats in that legislative body
- Pitt’s rationale was that Irish problems could be overcome if the Irish were given a better
opportunity to improve themselves, whereby they would then be able to recognise the
benefits of membership in the empire
Background:
- Growing demand for greater autonomy was an issue the British government were reluctant
to even consider
- Ireland seen as a crucial part of Britain’s imperial identity
- To think about extending greater power to Ireland was felt to be tantamount to dismantling
the empire - especially amongst Conservatives
- More liberal politicians recognised the need to be more accommodating, prevent political
aggression that might threaten British interests in Ireland
- So, in terms of policy, there was an attempt at moderate change both with the regard to
promoting reform and also to avoid encouraging greater discontent
- 80% were Catholic, in Britain the majority were Protestant - Britain’s relationship with
Ireland before 1774 had been divided due to religious attitudes. Lingering sense of injustice
amongst the Irish, especially Catholics, which successive governments would have to
contend with
- Sources of discontent was the Church of Ireland (Anglican) and the official Church rather
than the majority Catholic one
- Promotion of the Church was part of the broader Protestant ascendancy - gave them more
favourable opportunities than Catholics
- This church reflected the reality that many Catholics felt to be true - that they were
outsiders within their own country
- Discrimination and alienation were feelings that promoted ongoing discontent
- After 1774 this became a significant feature of Anglo-Irish relations - aggressive methods
that Irish nationalists and later unionist adopted to achieve their goals
Importance of Britain’s prime ministers and politicians:
- The changing relationship between Ireland and Britain was shaped first by Irish demands,
but also the attitudes of Britain’s politicians
- The gradual shift from determined control to acceptance of greater autonomy owes much
to the changing attitudes of the prime ministers
- Britain’s political establishment was increasingly realistic about the changing nature of
Anglo-Irish relations, sought to address these changes as effectively as it could in the
interest of Great Britain
- Changing attitudes had a lot to do with agitation and open rebellion from the Irish
Early agitation and rebellion in Ireland:
- Being part of an empire that spanned the globe, Ireland was susceptible to global
influences, this largely manifested itself through the manner in which British politicians
reacted to these influences
- American and French revolution very significant - they encouraged a greater and more
aggressive demand for political rights among Irish citizens, they forced British
parliamentarians to consider the dangers of the growing agitation in Ireland
- Loss of American colony made Britain realise what could be achieved if a nation was
prepared to act decisively
- The Americans were effectively fighting for the same principles that the Irish harboured
, - Defeat of British forces in 1783 sharpened the awareness of Britain - left Britain seeking a
way to mitigate the loss of one of its most important colonies and prevent further imperial
losses
Whig Government - William Pitt the Younger 1759-1806:
- The aftermath of the war saw the Tory government collapse, became a Whig government
that was anxious to soothe Irish opinion under William Pitt the Younger
- Emergence of Irish Volunteers and their demand for enhanced legislative powers for the
Dublin parliament was especially threatening
- Wanted the removal of legislative restrictions upon the Irish Parliament (imposed by
Poynings’ Law) - the war had shown the clear preference that British policy gave to British
businessmen at the expense of the Irish
- Solution was to repeal the Declaratory Act and modify Poynings’ Law in 1782 - to leave
Britain with only the power of veto - Constitution of 1782
- Ireland granted with its own Mutiny Act, greater control over armed forces
- Aim was to reduce Irish demands, done at a time when Britain were vulnerable
Catholic Relief Act 1793:
- Due to their vulnerability, Britain were willing to concede reform rather than risk losing
another colony
- Britain policy often directed by fears of greater consequences rather than a principled wish
to improve the experiences of those in Ireland
- Made apparent by the French revolution 1789, Pitt reasoned that to deny Irish Catholics
greater rights might motivate them to support the new French republic
- Growth of the United Irishmen and the efforts of the Catholic Committee in seeking redress
of the Penal Laws raised the issue of reform again - Britain willing to conciliate
- Catholic Committee sent a delegation to London 1793 to William Pitt the Younger about
reforming the anti-Catholic Penal Laws
- Agreed and encouraged the Irish parliament (technically autonomous but under British
influence) to pass the Relief Act in 1793, removing the majority of barriers to Catholics
except the right to hold public office
- British policy dictated largely by external circumstances rather than popular sympathy,
when Britain were in stronger positions it would not concede powers so readily
Progressive attitudes that were seemingly exhibited through the extension of greater
rights in Ireland were in reality borne from a stronger desire to protect British
interests. The aim was to grant a little to secure the whole. Early reform was a
pragmatic decision rather than a moral imperative.
Act of Union 1801:
- United Irishmen movement failed and made them more tightly bound to Britain through the
Act of Union
- Irish parliament was removed and the British parliament took direct control of Irish affairs,
although Irish representatives were permitted to 100 seats in that legislative body
- Pitt’s rationale was that Irish problems could be overcome if the Irish were given a better
opportunity to improve themselves, whereby they would then be able to recognise the
benefits of membership in the empire
