Political Reforms In Ireland Essay

Describe and critically assess the impact of the movement for political reform in Ireland from Daniel O'Connell to the fall of Parnell.

Throughout the nineteenth century Ireland experienced much change in many aspects of society. Politically, constitutionally and socially. The onset of the Great Famine in the middle of the century would define much of the Irish catholic thought towards British rule in Ireland. The Act of Union in 1801 became a catalyst for the political reform which would consume political thought in Ireland over the next 120 years. Throughout this essay I will critically assess the political movements and reforms in Ireland from the political movement and leadership of Daniel O Connell in the early years of the 1800s until the fall of Parnell at the conclusion of the century.

The act of union in 1801 was considered a defence against the radical ideas that were simmering in Ireland in the late eighteenth century . The repeal of the Penal laws in the late eighteenth century invoked fears of Catholic uprisings in the minds of the Protestant ascendency . The Act of Union abolished the home parliament in Dublin in return for 100 Irish elected MP's in Westminster. The Union also created Anglicanism as the official state church. The union afforded Ireland some advantages including open and free trade in the Empire. However it was not mutually as favourable for Ireland as England. Fiscally, Ireland remained to possess a separate exchequer and national debt. The Union meant that Catholics were still ostracised within their own country and continued to be being banned from holding public office. Laws were not universal across the whole of the United Kingdom with some adhering only to Irish citizens. Over the next hundre...

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... Parnell in 1881 it did not halt the campaign for home rule. The home rule bills were rejected in 1886 and 1893. It was not until 1912 that the Home rule bill was passed. It was put on the shelf due to the onset of the first world war. The Act of Union that had consumed Irish political thinking for over 100 years was eventually repealed in1920 with the Government of Ireland Act. The political reforms of O Connell to Parnell covered a multitude of social issues. Whilst O’Connell’s constitutional approach secured emancipation, his aversion to violence led to a decline in support and momentum for his campaign for repeal. Charismatic popular groups such as the Young Irelanders and the IRB succumbed to violence to to achieve their aim with figures such as Isaac Butt and Parnell at the helm. The moves for political reform was influenced by all these aspects.