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What could Catholics not do due to the Penal Laws?
vote, buy/inherit land, hold military rank or public office, convert Protestants to Catholicism, marry Protestants, receive a Catholic education
What did Catholics have to do under the Penal Laws?
operate a system of gavelkind
What did the Penal Laws encourage?
spread of Protestantism- synonymous with pro-British attitudes
What did the Penal Laws control?
Catholic population by making them powerless
What did the Penal Laws preserve from a Protestant perspective?
their privileged position in society
How did the penal laws cause political disempowerment for Catholic citizens?
Protestants had greater legal rights and were able to dominate Irish politics- could conduct policy without addressing Catholic interests
How did the penal laws cause economic inequality?
Protestants retained majority of landholdings so Catholics became tenants- promoted widening gulf between religions because land was a source of power, ensured opportunity for exploitation
What percentage of land holdings did Protestants retain?
95%
How did the penal laws cause resentment?
Awareness that Protestants were a minority with privilege over resentful majority- sensitive to encouraging Catholic reforms tat would encourage wider demands, failure of land bills
How did the penals laws cause the growing power and nationalism of Protestants?
Irish Protestants began to seek greater power and for Britain to reduce their interference in Irish affairs (Henry Flood and the Earl of Charlemont) -> Britain sympathetic attitude to Catholics
What was the 1774 Oath of Allegiance?
allowed Catholics and alternative sects of Protestantism to declare their loyalty to George II
What was the significance of the 1774 Oath of Alliegance?
breaking down anti-Catholic sentiment revolving around worries about their loyalty
Why was the 1774 Oath of Allegiance passed?
ensure Catholic support for the American War, reduce Protestant calls for increased rights by reducing separation
How did the American War of Independence cause the 1778 Catholic Relief Act?
threat posed encouraged British politicians to have a more conciliatory attitude towards Catholics to ensure their support
How did French Catholics cause the 1778 Catholic Relief Act?
French Catholics declared war on Britain- worries the Irish would support
How many did politicians hope would join the British army after the 1778 Catholic Relief Act?
10,000
When were the Catholic Relief Acts?
1778, 1782, 1793
What was the 1778 Catholic Relief Act?
allowed Catholics who had taken the oath to inherit and buy land (ended gavelkind) and acquire longleases
What were the consequences of the 1778 Catholic Relief Act?
opened the door for further reforms of the Penal Laws
Why was the 1782 Catholic Relief Act passed?
retain support of Irish Catholics, attempt to isolate IV who were calling for more power for the Dublin parl
What was the 1782 Catholic Relief Act?
right to buy land so long as not in Parliamentary boroughs- no Catholic dominated constituencies removed restrictions against Catholic education and clergy
What were the consequences of the 1782 Catholic Relief Act?
created opportunity for Catholics to become more independent and improve their education
When were the Gordon riots?
1780
How many were killed in the Gordon riots?
700
How important was the French Revolution to the passage of the CRAs?
fundamental to repeal of additional anti-Catholic legislation because it openly threatened British governance and its treatment of Irish Catholics
How did the Catholic Committee take advantage of the FR in getting a third CRA passed?
took a delegation to Westminster in 1791 to confront the Irish Parliament
How did threats of religious unity cause the 1793 CRA?
Fears over growth of UI and unity- Pitt applied pressure to Irish parl
What was the 1793 Catholic Relief Act?
Catholics able to hold most military and civil posts except for public officers, practice law and vote in elections
What were the consequences of the 1793 CRA?
growing acceptance of Catholic rights
What was being proposed at the same time as the 1793 CRA was being considered?
another militia bill was proposed that enlisted 20,000 Irishmen for defence of Ireland in the event of war
Why did Grattan try to push his emancipation bill through Parliament in 1805?
counter anti-Catholic sentiment that Catholics were disloyal due to their allegiance to Rome
How did the campaign lead to the failure of Grattan's Emancipation Bill?
Catholics were disorganised- few pol. activists were aristocratic and conservative, most unwilling to campaign because they did not want to jeopardise their privileged position
What did aristocratic activists disagree with in the campaign for Grattan's emancipation bill?
creation of a petition to parl suggested by younger MC activists in 1805
What was the veto issue and how did it prevent Grattan's emancipation bill?
gov veto on Church appts, Crown could block nominations they felt were politically unreliable- discontent raised upset Catholic bishops who rejected the bill in Sept 1808
By how many votes was Grattan's Emancipation Bill rejected in 1808?
281 to 128
What happened as a consequence of the failure of Grattan's Emancipation Bill?
undermined position of the Catholic aristocratic activists, influence dwindled after defeat as they did not share wider Catholic interests
Who was Daniel O'Connell?
Catholic lawyer who was first to join the bar- RC Gentry, beloved in Ire
When was the Catholic Board established?
1811
Who supported the Catholic Board?
aristocratic, MC and clerical
Who led the Catholic Board?
O'Connell
When did Parliament motion in favour of considering emancipation again?
1812-13
Why did the CB reject the 1813 bill?
included veto
How did the 1813 bill affect the unity of the CB?
led to internal disputes as aristocratic elements supported bill and saw O'C rejection as aggressive
Why did the CB dissolve in 1814?
disputes spoilt prestige and unity it stood for, issue still had momentum
When was the first Catholic Association established?
1823
Who supported the first CA?
wide social base with aim to recruit large membership
What was the CA's 'Catholic Rent'?
Members paid small subscription fee, 1p per month at Sunday mass
How much was collected with 'Catholic Rent' due to the large membership of the CA?
1823- £10,000
What was the money collected through 'Catholic Rent' used for?
to sponsor activities and promote cause- public meetings with large numbers and making it difficult for politicians to ignore
When did the British government ban the first CA?
Jan 1825
How did O'C react to the first CA's ban?
dissolved the organisation
When was the second Catholic Association reconstructed?
1826
How was the second CA changed to evade the ban?
avoid fiery rhetoric and held meetings for no longer than 14 days
How did the second CA affect the outcome of the general election?
campaign for candidates sympathetic to emancipation and against candidates who opposed emancipation
Where were there new candidates in favour of emancipation in the general election?
counties Roscommon, Louth, Longford and West Meath
Who was a new louder voice for emancipation in the 1828 parliament?
Duke of Wellington
When was there a by-election when a seat became available in County Clare?
1828
How did the CA promote O'C as a candidate in the County Clare election?
canvassed voters- took them to the polling booths on polling day
By how much did O'C win the County Clare election?
2057 to 982
Why couldn't O'C take up his seat after he won the County Clare election?
oath of supremacy incompatible with Catholicism as it forbade their allegiance to Rome
Why did the CA support O'C not Fitzgerald?
he was sympathetic to the cause but not Catholic, embarrassed gov into allowing Catholics to sit in Parliament
What act allowed Catholics to sit in Parliament?
Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829
Why did O'C have to be re-elected even after the act was passed?
bill was not retrospective, had to be re-elected to take his seat
When did O'C finally sit in the House of Commons?
July 1829
What other reasons were there for the passage of the Catholic Relief Act 1829?
Bi-partisan support and Wellington's threat to resign to gain George IV's approval- instability in Tories
What bill was passed as soon as the CRA was in 1829?
Parliament Elections Bill (Ireland) Act
What was the Parliament Elections Bill (Ireland) Act 1829?
increased qualification to vote from 40 shillings freehold to £10 household
What was the electorate reduced to after the Parliament Elections Bill (Ireland) Act 1829?
215,901 to 39,872
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