How Ireland was governed under the Union The campaigns for Catholic emancipation and repeal of the Act of Union The life of Daniel O’Connell
The government of Ireland
When the Act of Union came into force in 1801, the Irish parliament ceased to exist. Ireland now sent 100 MPs to the House of Commons in Westminster and was represented by 32 peers in the House of Lords. Laws passed in London applied to Ireland.
The government of Ireland was based in Dublin Castle. The head of the government of Ireland was the Chief Secretary, a British politician who spent most of his time in London. The British king was represented in Ireland by the Lord Lieutenant.
‘The Catholic Question’ England Scotland
Original Union Flag (1606)
Ireland
Composition of the Union Flag
Current Union Flag (1801)
The biggest political issue in Ireland at this time was ‘the Catholic Question’. Many Catholics had supported the Act of Union in 1800. The British government had promised that the last of the Penal Laws would be abolished and full Catholic emancipation would be granted. Catholic emancipation was the goal for Catholics: that they be allowed to sit in parliament. However, all MPs had to swear an oath recognising the King of England as head of the Church. As no Catholic could swear this oath (to them, the Pope was head of the Church), they could not become MPs even if elected.
The promise to introduce emancipation after the Union had been broken. Catholics also resented paying tithes to the Church of Ireland. At the same time, a Catholic middle class of larger farmers, professionals and merchants was emerging who were educated and wealthy enough to campaign for change. They found their champion in a Catholic lawyer named Daniel O’Connell.
CHECKPOINT!
1. How many Irish MPs represented Ireland in Westminster? 2. Who were the Chief Secretary and the Lord Lieutenant? 3. What was Catholic emancipation? 4. Why were Catholics unhappy in Ireland after the Act of Union?
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I know the main political issues that faced Ireland in the early 1800s.
