HAP2001 - Lecture 2
The Partition of Ireland
Was it inevitable?
There are certain structures that can make them possible but a historical event is dependent
on a series of variables coming together at one time to make an event occur.
A ‘path dependancy’ explanation: colonial legacies from ulster plantation to ulster unionism
of the early 20th century
All dependent on human actions!
The structures of the ulster plantations in the 17th century makes partition possible
Problems for Historians
- Unease with ‘inevitability’ or deterministic arguments – attention to contingencies and
complexities • ‘Flattening’ of history to fit eventual outcomes (teleology)
- Exclusion of complicating phenomena (areas and moments of social and political
co-operation; potential for political compromise)
- Specifics of timing (1920) and format (6 county partition and regional home rule)
dependent on human agency operating in changing political contexts
Post-plantation structures make partition a possibility, even a likelihood, but under precise
conditions
The Plantation of Ulster 1609-42
- Part of British colonial strategy to ‘pacify’ north of Ireland conquered from the gaelic
leaders in 9 years war (1594-1603)
- Confiscate the land from the rebel chiefs after the flight of the earls and the
redistribution to the English settlers
- Middlemen like undertakers and Servitors are trusted to bring people over from
England and Scotland to the plantations and they will become the farmers and
artisans on these lands - defended by fortified towns (Londonderry), bawns (fortified
manors) and armed bands
- Only partially successful (People stay close to the places they were placed and also
the arrival ports) and much destroyed by great Gaelic rebellion 1642 and subsequent
wars and Cromwellian request (mass bloodshed) - sectarian memory (on both sides)
Problem with ‘path dependant’ Ulster Plantation explanation of Partition
- Only 6 of the 9 Ulster counties were officially planted from 1609 (excluding Antrim,
Down, Monaghan)
- 1920 NI border excluded 2 planted counties (Donegal and Cavan)
- Greatest population movement into Ulster came in later decades of the 17th century
(especially due to Scottish famines in 1690s)
- Significant movement of Ulster-Scottish to the North American Colonies 1720-70
- Long standing antagonisms within ‘British’ settlers between Scots Presbyterians and
English Anglicans - especially 1640s, 1670s-80s, 1770s-90s - strong religious
identities (There’s divisions within groups like protestants, showing its not just
catholics and protestant divisions)
- Penal laws against both Catholics and ‘Dissenters’ (Presbyterians) passed by Irish
Parliament 1690s-1720s
, Political re-orientations in the 18th century
- Descendants of the settlers come to see themselves as Irish but in different to the
majority catholics
- Patriot movement in 1770s-80s t (led in Ulster by Earl of Charlemont and Bishop of
Derry) calls for greater Irish autonomy from Britain and to end treatment as a colony
but wary of political rights for catholics
- Presbyterian radicals support American and French revolutions and in 1791 set up
United Irish Society arguing for catholic political rights and common Irish nationality
(and spreads to Dublin and other areas)
- War and repression after 1793 leads UIS into demands for a fully independent Irish
republic and revolution – but 1798 rebellion fails and sparks an Irish civil war
What happened to Ulster Presbyterian Radicalism?
- Massive and bloody defeat of 1798 destroys or forces into exile much of radical
leadership
- Victory of alternative ‘Orange’ tradition stressing immutable religious divisions and
Protestant supremacy
- But radical tradition doesn’t disappear – takes different forms in 19th century, in
land-reform movement, labour movement; Presbyterian clergy often involved
- But shift from republicanism and nationalism towards a strand of British Liberalism
- This defeated in political polarisations in Ulster from 1880s, but never completely
disappears
- Need to consider religious, social and political changes of 19th century to understand
this and how it ultimately contributed to politics of partition
The Role of Religion
- 19th century a period of intense religious feeling and belief
- Era of revival and change for all main churches in Ireland
- Closer relations between church leaderships and political movements (but tended to
follow rather than lead congregations)
- Different denominations impacted in different ways
Denominations in Ireland
Anglicans - Church of Ireland
- Established 1530s but reinforced by 1800 Act of Union
- The church of the landed and the political elite
- A ‘national’ church, but largest concentration of members in south Ulster - and
growing in Belfast due to migration (the industrialised city of belfast causes farmers in
south ulster to migrate)
- Church of c.10% of population (rising to 13% by 1911), but of landed and political
elite
- On defensive from 1820s due to rising mass Catholic movement (Catholic
Emancipation, 1829) and concessions by liberal British governments from 1830s to
make state ‘neutral’
- Tithe commuted 1838; Church disestablished 1869/71 – becomes a ‘voluntary’
Protestant church, but retaining land and support of wealthy
- A ‘national’ church, but largest concentration of members in south Ulster – and
growing in Belfast due to migration
The Partition of Ireland
Was it inevitable?
There are certain structures that can make them possible but a historical event is dependent
on a series of variables coming together at one time to make an event occur.
A ‘path dependancy’ explanation: colonial legacies from ulster plantation to ulster unionism
of the early 20th century
All dependent on human actions!
The structures of the ulster plantations in the 17th century makes partition possible
Problems for Historians
- Unease with ‘inevitability’ or deterministic arguments – attention to contingencies and
complexities • ‘Flattening’ of history to fit eventual outcomes (teleology)
- Exclusion of complicating phenomena (areas and moments of social and political
co-operation; potential for political compromise)
- Specifics of timing (1920) and format (6 county partition and regional home rule)
dependent on human agency operating in changing political contexts
Post-plantation structures make partition a possibility, even a likelihood, but under precise
conditions
The Plantation of Ulster 1609-42
- Part of British colonial strategy to ‘pacify’ north of Ireland conquered from the gaelic
leaders in 9 years war (1594-1603)
- Confiscate the land from the rebel chiefs after the flight of the earls and the
redistribution to the English settlers
- Middlemen like undertakers and Servitors are trusted to bring people over from
England and Scotland to the plantations and they will become the farmers and
artisans on these lands - defended by fortified towns (Londonderry), bawns (fortified
manors) and armed bands
- Only partially successful (People stay close to the places they were placed and also
the arrival ports) and much destroyed by great Gaelic rebellion 1642 and subsequent
wars and Cromwellian request (mass bloodshed) - sectarian memory (on both sides)
Problem with ‘path dependant’ Ulster Plantation explanation of Partition
- Only 6 of the 9 Ulster counties were officially planted from 1609 (excluding Antrim,
Down, Monaghan)
- 1920 NI border excluded 2 planted counties (Donegal and Cavan)
- Greatest population movement into Ulster came in later decades of the 17th century
(especially due to Scottish famines in 1690s)
- Significant movement of Ulster-Scottish to the North American Colonies 1720-70
- Long standing antagonisms within ‘British’ settlers between Scots Presbyterians and
English Anglicans - especially 1640s, 1670s-80s, 1770s-90s - strong religious
identities (There’s divisions within groups like protestants, showing its not just
catholics and protestant divisions)
- Penal laws against both Catholics and ‘Dissenters’ (Presbyterians) passed by Irish
Parliament 1690s-1720s
, Political re-orientations in the 18th century
- Descendants of the settlers come to see themselves as Irish but in different to the
majority catholics
- Patriot movement in 1770s-80s t (led in Ulster by Earl of Charlemont and Bishop of
Derry) calls for greater Irish autonomy from Britain and to end treatment as a colony
but wary of political rights for catholics
- Presbyterian radicals support American and French revolutions and in 1791 set up
United Irish Society arguing for catholic political rights and common Irish nationality
(and spreads to Dublin and other areas)
- War and repression after 1793 leads UIS into demands for a fully independent Irish
republic and revolution – but 1798 rebellion fails and sparks an Irish civil war
What happened to Ulster Presbyterian Radicalism?
- Massive and bloody defeat of 1798 destroys or forces into exile much of radical
leadership
- Victory of alternative ‘Orange’ tradition stressing immutable religious divisions and
Protestant supremacy
- But radical tradition doesn’t disappear – takes different forms in 19th century, in
land-reform movement, labour movement; Presbyterian clergy often involved
- But shift from republicanism and nationalism towards a strand of British Liberalism
- This defeated in political polarisations in Ulster from 1880s, but never completely
disappears
- Need to consider religious, social and political changes of 19th century to understand
this and how it ultimately contributed to politics of partition
The Role of Religion
- 19th century a period of intense religious feeling and belief
- Era of revival and change for all main churches in Ireland
- Closer relations between church leaderships and political movements (but tended to
follow rather than lead congregations)
- Different denominations impacted in different ways
Denominations in Ireland
Anglicans - Church of Ireland
- Established 1530s but reinforced by 1800 Act of Union
- The church of the landed and the political elite
- A ‘national’ church, but largest concentration of members in south Ulster - and
growing in Belfast due to migration (the industrialised city of belfast causes farmers in
south ulster to migrate)
- Church of c.10% of population (rising to 13% by 1911), but of landed and political
elite
- On defensive from 1820s due to rising mass Catholic movement (Catholic
Emancipation, 1829) and concessions by liberal British governments from 1830s to
make state ‘neutral’
- Tithe commuted 1838; Church disestablished 1869/71 – becomes a ‘voluntary’
Protestant church, but retaining land and support of wealthy
- A ‘national’ church, but largest concentration of members in south Ulster – and
growing in Belfast due to migration
