What is the Irish Question

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What is the Irish Question?

• Why did it become an issue in 1868?
• Why did Gladstone want to pacify Ireland?
• How did Gladstone perceive the Irish question?
• What did he think had to be done?
• How effective were Gladstones policies?

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4 interrelated problems

• 1. Religion
• population predominantly Roman Catholic
  (80),Nonconformists(10),Church of Ireland(10)
  ruled by Protestant England
• Church of Ireland was Established Church (alien
  Anglican church)- received compulsory tithe
  payments from ALL Irish people

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2.Land Tenure

• Irish peasants did not own their land
• landlords were English, Protestant and usually
  not living in Ireland- Protestant Ascendancy or
  Anglo-Irish Ascendancy
• Irish livelihood was based on agriculture, only a
  small area of the N.E. had experienced an
  industrial revolution

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3.The Political relationship with England

• 1800 Act of Union. Ireland lost its parliament
  dominated by Anglo-Irish Ascendancy and became
  part of England. Ireland was given 105 M.P.s in
  Westminster.
• Many Irish wanted repeal of the Act of Union
• Ireland wanted to be in charge of its own
  affairs-Home Rule after 1886

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4.Law and Order

• Coercion Act passed to settle unrest and collect
  tithe arrears (1833 Whigs)
• 1858 Fenian Brotherhood established in USA
  wanting to create an independent Irish Republic
  by violent means
• 1865-86 Fenian outrages in Canada (invasion),
  Ireland(uprising) and England (terrorist attacks)
  caused concern at Westminster-Gladstone to
  pacify Ireland