'The failure to implement Home Rule for Ireland between 1886 and 1914 was primarily the result of the resistance in Ulster

P1 - Bonar Law & Unionists/Carson & UVF

• Cons and Unionists believed Ulster should not be forced to break the Union and that it would be a blow to Imperialism.

• In a speech in July 1912 at Blenheim Palace, Unionist leader appeared to encourage/condone Ulster resisting Home Rule by force.

• Seemed to suggest political support for violence against any implementation of HR

• Carson, Protestant lawyer, became leader of Ulster Unionists Party in 1912.

• Concerned that HR would be granted to ireland because of 1911 Parliament Act's limits on power of Lords.

• Ulster wanted to remain part of Union & Carson drew up Solemn League and Covenent where over 470k signed a

• Jan 1913: UVF set up- 100k men began to import arms

• However:

• Outbreak of World War I in 1914 caused govt to suspend the Home Rule Act, as the war became main priority → More direct cause

• Government also feared dividing the army, especially after Curragh Incident in 1914, when army officers suggested they might refuse to act against Ulster Unionists.

• Crisis was also caused by political weakness & military uncertainty

P2 - Criticisms of Liberals (Gladstone and Asquith)

• Liberals constantly accused of mishandling issue of HR: Gladstone's failure in 1885 (Hawarden Kite, no communication with cabinet & again in 1893 accused of being beholden to INP)

• Asquith who only reluctantly proposed 3rd HR bill in 1912 due to needing INP support due to 1910 general elections

• Liberals should have handled issue more effectively

• However

• Liberals only party to attempt to make significant progress which was made with Asquith even successfully passing HR bill in 1914 → Delay by HOL & WW2 obstructed Liberals attempts

• Gladstone successful in putting HR on agenda & passing bill in HOC

P3 - Lords Interference

• Act of Union had stood since 1800 → To repeal it would require a change to constitution and thus approval of the Lords

• Cons dominated & aristocratic by nature unlikely to relinquish control, also some perhaps owned land in treland & didn’t want to go down a road maybe leading to full independence.

• Rejected 2nd HR bill in 1893 and delayed 3rd HR bill in 1913.

• Only once power of Lords removed after Parliament Act was Ulster's sentiments really exploited

• However:

• Power was significantly reduced by tParliament Act 1911 meaning they could only delay legislation, not permanently veto it → 3rd HR Bill still managed to pass into law despite Lords opposition.

• While Lords slowed progress—such as rejecting the 2nd Home Rule Bill in 1893—they were not ultimately able to prevent Home Rule

Conclusion

• Ulster resistance as main cause

• Internalised division intensified through violent threatened civil wear & therefore threatened the success of HR in practise

• Although Liberal political weaknesses & delaying actions of HOL slowed progress, these obstacles were eventually overcome.