Summary of Ireland Under The Union- Irish Nationalism and Irish
Unionism During the 19th Century- Irish History- A Level History
Revision Notes
❖ Irish Nationalism
➢ Henry Grattan
➢ Robert Emmet
➢ Daniel O’Connell and Catholic Emancipation
➢ Daniel O’Connell and Irish Reform
➢ Daniel O’Connell and the Repeal of the 1801 Act of Union
➢ The 1848 Young Ireland Rebellion
➢ The 1867 Fenian Rising
➢ William Gladstone’s Reforms
➢ Isaac Butt and the Home Rule League
➢ Davitt, Parnell, and the Land League
➢ Charles Stewart Parnell and Home Rule
❖ Irish Unionism
➢ The Brunswick Clubs and the Campaign Against Emancipation
➢ The Growth of Conservatism in Ireland
➢ Reverend Henry Cooke
➢ Reverend Hugh Hanna
➢ Southern Unionism
➢ Ulster Unionism
➢ The Links between Unionism and Conservatism
Irish Nationalism
Henry Grattan
● Constitutional nationalism
, ● Henry Grattan was a Protestant nationalist who led a group of
nationalist “Patriots” in the House of Commons. The group attempted to
achieve Catholic Emancipation.
● The Patriots failed to achieve Catholic Emancipation in 1821 and 1826,
mostly because of strong opposition from King George III and King
George IV.
● Grattan did, however, successfully inspire O’Connell (who achieved
Catholic Emancipation in 1829).
Robert Emmet
● Revolutionary nationalism
● Robert Emmet wanted to achieve an Irish Republic with his 1803
rebellion in Dublin, but was unsuccessful.
● Heavily influenced by Wolfe Tone’s 1798 rebellion.
● Emmet’s hesitant leadership contributed in no small part to his failure.
Whilst the original plan was to attack Dublin Castle, Emmet decided
last-minute to occupy two streets in Dublin city centre.
● Emmet also suffered from a lack of support. Only approximately 300
men rebelled. This can be partially attributed to a lack of support from
the influential Catholic Church. For example, the morning that the
rebellion was set to occur, Archbishop Troy of Dublin publicly
denounced the rebellion during his Sunday sermon.
● The rebellion was easily crushed by a strong British government.
Approximately 50 people were killed during the rebellion, with a further
22 being executed (including Emmet) in September.
● Emmet’s only success was in creating a series of martyrs who would be
inspirations for generations of Irish nationalists. His speech from the
docks would be quoted throughout Irish history.
Daniel O’Connell’s Emancipation Campaign
● Constitutional nationalism
, ● After Grattan’s failure, O’Connell finally succeeded in achieving the
Roman Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829.
● Upon learning that the 1821 Emancipation Campaign had failed,
O’Connell commented “Twenty years have passed away and still we are
slaves”.
● O’Connell established the Catholic Association in 1823 to spread
support for the Emancipation Campaign amongst the working classes.
By the time that Emancipation was delivered, the Catholic Association
represented 7 million people. This was partially because of the Catholic
Rent (one penny / month membership of the Association). This provided
an affordable way for the farming classes to support the campaign, and
raised £20,000 within nine months. It also raised a further £35,000
between 1826 and 1829.
● O’Connell was incredibly popular. His charismatic leadership and skilled
oratorship earned him the names “The Deliverer” and “The Liberator”.
● O’Connell’s mass support allowed him to create a “crusade of an
irresistible mass movement” (Rees).
● The Catholic Church was also essential in the campaign. As well as
helping to collect the Catholic Rent, the Catholic clergy encouraged the
forty-shilling freeholders to defy their landlord in the 1826 general
election. As a result, four pro-Emancipation candidates were returned.
Notable individuals included Bishop Doyle, who published pamphlets in
support of the campaign for Catholic Emancipation.
● The 1828 County Clare byelection was a vital turning point in the
campaign. O’Connell won the election by a staggering vote of 2057 to
982, but couldn’t take his seat without Catholic Emancipation. O’Connell
started to place pressure on the British government, threatening riots
(brinkmanship) if Emancipation was not delivered. This pushed
Wellington (Prime Minister at the time) to concede to O’Connell’s
demands.
Unionism During the 19th Century- Irish History- A Level History
Revision Notes
❖ Irish Nationalism
➢ Henry Grattan
➢ Robert Emmet
➢ Daniel O’Connell and Catholic Emancipation
➢ Daniel O’Connell and Irish Reform
➢ Daniel O’Connell and the Repeal of the 1801 Act of Union
➢ The 1848 Young Ireland Rebellion
➢ The 1867 Fenian Rising
➢ William Gladstone’s Reforms
➢ Isaac Butt and the Home Rule League
➢ Davitt, Parnell, and the Land League
➢ Charles Stewart Parnell and Home Rule
❖ Irish Unionism
➢ The Brunswick Clubs and the Campaign Against Emancipation
➢ The Growth of Conservatism in Ireland
➢ Reverend Henry Cooke
➢ Reverend Hugh Hanna
➢ Southern Unionism
➢ Ulster Unionism
➢ The Links between Unionism and Conservatism
Irish Nationalism
Henry Grattan
● Constitutional nationalism
, ● Henry Grattan was a Protestant nationalist who led a group of
nationalist “Patriots” in the House of Commons. The group attempted to
achieve Catholic Emancipation.
● The Patriots failed to achieve Catholic Emancipation in 1821 and 1826,
mostly because of strong opposition from King George III and King
George IV.
● Grattan did, however, successfully inspire O’Connell (who achieved
Catholic Emancipation in 1829).
Robert Emmet
● Revolutionary nationalism
● Robert Emmet wanted to achieve an Irish Republic with his 1803
rebellion in Dublin, but was unsuccessful.
● Heavily influenced by Wolfe Tone’s 1798 rebellion.
● Emmet’s hesitant leadership contributed in no small part to his failure.
Whilst the original plan was to attack Dublin Castle, Emmet decided
last-minute to occupy two streets in Dublin city centre.
● Emmet also suffered from a lack of support. Only approximately 300
men rebelled. This can be partially attributed to a lack of support from
the influential Catholic Church. For example, the morning that the
rebellion was set to occur, Archbishop Troy of Dublin publicly
denounced the rebellion during his Sunday sermon.
● The rebellion was easily crushed by a strong British government.
Approximately 50 people were killed during the rebellion, with a further
22 being executed (including Emmet) in September.
● Emmet’s only success was in creating a series of martyrs who would be
inspirations for generations of Irish nationalists. His speech from the
docks would be quoted throughout Irish history.
Daniel O’Connell’s Emancipation Campaign
● Constitutional nationalism
, ● After Grattan’s failure, O’Connell finally succeeded in achieving the
Roman Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829.
● Upon learning that the 1821 Emancipation Campaign had failed,
O’Connell commented “Twenty years have passed away and still we are
slaves”.
● O’Connell established the Catholic Association in 1823 to spread
support for the Emancipation Campaign amongst the working classes.
By the time that Emancipation was delivered, the Catholic Association
represented 7 million people. This was partially because of the Catholic
Rent (one penny / month membership of the Association). This provided
an affordable way for the farming classes to support the campaign, and
raised £20,000 within nine months. It also raised a further £35,000
between 1826 and 1829.
● O’Connell was incredibly popular. His charismatic leadership and skilled
oratorship earned him the names “The Deliverer” and “The Liberator”.
● O’Connell’s mass support allowed him to create a “crusade of an
irresistible mass movement” (Rees).
● The Catholic Church was also essential in the campaign. As well as
helping to collect the Catholic Rent, the Catholic clergy encouraged the
forty-shilling freeholders to defy their landlord in the 1826 general
election. As a result, four pro-Emancipation candidates were returned.
Notable individuals included Bishop Doyle, who published pamphlets in
support of the campaign for Catholic Emancipation.
● The 1828 County Clare byelection was a vital turning point in the
campaign. O’Connell won the election by a staggering vote of 2057 to
982, but couldn’t take his seat without Catholic Emancipation. O’Connell
started to place pressure on the British government, threatening riots
(brinkmanship) if Emancipation was not delivered. This pushed
Wellington (Prime Minister at the time) to concede to O’Connell’s
demands.
