This is a timeline that covers all the content for Edexcel A-Level History, Option 36.2 Ireland and the Union. Comprehensive and detailed, it will aid with remembering and revising the key events of the time period.
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Irish History Timeline - (1800-1921)
1800
Act of Union passed
● Helped by the position of Pitt as PM – no prospect of an anti-Unionist government
coming to power in Britain – unassailable!
● Castlereagh – bribery, pressure and influence on a huge scale induced a number
of anti-Unionist Irish MPs to vote in favour – passed by 158 to 115.
● Removed the Irish parliament in Dublin, gave Ireland 100 MPs at Westminster
and 32 Peers in the House of Lords, unified the CofE & CofI, free trade
established between the countries, equal commercial privileges, Ireland to
contribute 2/17ths to the expenditure of the United Kingdom, financial systems to
remain separate, legal systems and laws remained as they were.
● The Viceroy remained and continued to exert significant influence in Ireland.
● It is important to remember that Catholic emancipation was originally proposed as
Part of the Act of Union, but the King refused to allow it.
● The bill achieved Ascent in August.
1801
Act of Union becomes LAW
● Consequences: hopes of supporters of the union largely unfulfilled – political
integration only half-hearted, Viceroy remained, Chief Secretary deals with all
Irish affairs, PA continue to control Ireland as they had previously. Pitt’s plan for
emancipation foiled by George III, causing Pitt’s resignation. The Economic
advantages proclaimed were not realised – Irish industries had no chance of
competing with the far more developed English ones. Ireland not seen as a good
investment – rather than England-> Ireland traffic, the reverse occurred – large-
scale emigration from Ireland to England and Scotland.
1803
Failed uprising in Dublin
● Led by Robert Emmet, who was inspired by the United Irishmen.
● Aimed to overthrow the Act of Union and establish an Irish republic.
● Emmet wanted to capture Dublin Castle, leading to a national revolution.
● An explosion at an arms dump a week before the planned revolt and
conspirators' pamphlets which were seized by the British government gave
Emmet's intentions away.
● Only 90 men rose up (he had planned for 2,000) and it only lasted a matter of
hours - didn't get near the Castle and followers piked the Lord Chief Justice of
Ireland to death.
● Over 30 people died.
● Emmet disapproved and went into hiding, but he was arrested outside the Castle.
● He was arrested and executed, and his speech from the docks became part of
nationalist literature in the period - 'Let no man write my epitaph...When my
country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then let
my epitaph be written.'
1807
Upsurge of agrarian outrages and crime
● Prompts Sir Arthur Wellesley (Chief secretary) to insist that Ireland “must be
considered the enemy’s country”
1811
,O’Connell sets up the Catholic Board
● Leader of the radical wing
1813
O’Connell proclaims his long term aim
● “it is the repeal of the Union and the restoration to Old Ireland of her
independence”
1817
Famine
● This famine was well dealt with – avoiding the sort of mass starvation seen in the
great famine of 1845-50.
1821
Catholic Emancipation bill rejected by Lords
● ‘Thank God!’ thought the Tories.
1823
Daniel O’Connell founds the Catholic Association
● A constitutional organisation for the achievement of Catholic civil and political
rights.
● Aimed for emancipation, much like the Old Catholic Board.
● Also wanted to embrace a wide range of issues, such as electoral reform, reform
of the Church or Ireland, tenants’ rights and economic development.
● The Catholic Church was a key part of the organisation.
● Methods:
● Run from Dublin, directing regional and local activity.
● Organisation of great open-air meetings.
● O’Connell as a brilliant orator spoke at these meetings.
● Policy of brinkmanship.
● Press and public posters.
1824
Catholic Association expanded
● It only became a prominent organisation when the Catholic rent was introduced
● One penny per month membership for all supporters, instead of the high
subscription originally proposed.
● This enabled the organisation to become truly national, with strong roots
among the peasantry – transformed the CA into “the crusade of an irresistible
mass movement”.
● Very successful – collected £20,000 in the first 9 months
1826
Election
● CA intervenes!
● (It called upon the catholic votes in certain counties to support only pro-
Emancipation candidates, whether they were Whigs or Tories.
● Urging the 40-shilling freeholders to disobey their Protestant landlords, &
many did!
● Meticulous organisation, combined with help of the local priests, achieved
some success – four pro-Emancipation candidates were returned.
1828
, February: Tests and Corporations Acts* repealed
● Made it difficult for the Tories to ignore the issue of Catholic emancipation
● *1661/1673 – excluded Roman Catholics, Protestant dissenters and Jews from
office.
July: Daniel O’Connell elected as MP for County Clare
● Vesey Fitzgerald was appointed President of the Board of Trade and as such had
to seek re-election.
● In an act of supreme audacity, O’Connell decides to stand against him.
● With backing of the CA and local Priests – he wins!
● Triggers a constitutional crisis – unable to take his seat in the HoC without a
change in the law – in effect, Catholic Emancipation. **The alternative? Oppose
his right to enter, which runs the risk of widespread public disorder and violence
in Ireland.
1829
Catholic Emancipation Act
● Granted virtually full political and civil rights to Catholics
● Alongside it was a gesture of political spite: the franchise qualification was raised
from 40 shillings freehold to £10 Household suffrage. This cut the Irish electorate
by 5/6ths.
● Argued by many historians as more important that 1800’s AoU – “1829 proved a
more important turning point in the history of modern Ireland than 1800” – J. C.
Beckett
● HOWEVER, change was slow – Catholics were still discriminated against.
● Marked a key point in the identification of Catholicism with Irish Nationalism.
1830
Anti-Tithe Campaign begins
● An acceleration of rural crime in protest against the Tithes – religious taxes
payable to the CofI.
● Forcible and generally unsuccessful attempts by the authorities to collect the
tithe.
● Virtual breakdown of Law and Order in Ireland.
● Was to last until 1838.
General Election
● 30 Irish O’Connellite MPs returned to the HoC – an influential 3rd Party!
1832
Great Reform Act
● Disappointing for the Irish – the vote was not restored to the 40-shilling
freeholders and Ireland obtained just 5 new MPs.
1833
Coercion Act
● One of the toughest pieces of Law and Order legislation to affect Ireland in the
19th Century.
● Gave the authorities powers of arbitrary arrest and imprisonment and control of
public meetings.
● Success in terms of diminishing the amount of violent crime, agitation etc and
hence got some support from Irish bishops.
● O’Connell denounces it; “the base, brutal and bloody Whigs”
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