The 1800 Act of Union Set the Stage for Irish Politics of the 1800s
The Act of Union, legislation passed by the parliaments of Ireland and Britain in 1800, created a new political entity, the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The timing of the act was prompted by Irish rebel activity, specifically the 1798 Uprising.
The desire of many Irish to break free from British rule was thwarted by the Act of Union, and the act would have implications for the entirety of the 19th century in Ireland.
The majority of the Irish people were opposed to it, though it was not until the Repeal Movement of the 1840s that substantial moves were made to secure self-rule for Ireland.
The quest for Home Rule for Ireland became a recurring theme throughout the 1800s, and actions ranging from open revolt to parliamentary campaigns tried to secure Irish self-government.
Ireland in the late 1700s was under British rule, but rebellious activity would erupt from time to time. In 1798, a widespread uprising, with the support of French troops, was crushed. And sentiment in Britain turned to binding Ireland to Britain by essentially making it a united nation.
In order to get the Act of Union passed, the British had to convince members of the Irish Parliament to dissolve that body. There are reports that funds were brought into Ireland, either as patronage or outright bribes to obtain the votes.
One of the big attractions of the Act of Union for Ireland's Catholic majority was the promise that it would lead to Catholic emancipation, which would mean a lessening of restrictive laws on the civil rights of Catholics.
However, that promise was unfulfilled until the Catholic Emancipation Movement of the 1820s, led by Daniel O'Connell.
The legislation passed the Irish Parliament and easily passed the British Parliament. It then took effect on January 1, 1801.
The ultimate agreement was that Ireland would give up its parliament, but would send 100 representatives to the British House of Commons and 28 representatives to Britain's House of Lords.
Having Irish representatives in the British Parliament would mean that Irish patriots, including Daniel O'Connell in the early 19th century, and Charles Stewart Parnell in the late 19th century, could bring the struggle for Irish independence directly to the seat of British power.
Indeed, considering the aggressive tactics often employed by O'Connell and Parnell, they may have been times when British politicians regretted bringing Irish representative into Parliamentary debates. And simply by having Irish members participating in debates, the issue of Ireland's desire for self-government could never be completely ignored.
The desire of many Irish to break free from British rule was thwarted by the Act of Union, and the act would have implications for the entirety of the 19th century in Ireland.
The majority of the Irish people were opposed to it, though it was not until the Repeal Movement of the 1840s that substantial moves were made to secure self-rule for Ireland.
The quest for Home Rule for Ireland became a recurring theme throughout the 1800s, and actions ranging from open revolt to parliamentary campaigns tried to secure Irish self-government.
Background of the Act of Union
Ireland in the late 1700s was under British rule, but rebellious activity would erupt from time to time. In 1798, a widespread uprising, with the support of French troops, was crushed. And sentiment in Britain turned to binding Ireland to Britain by essentially making it a united nation.
In order to get the Act of Union passed, the British had to convince members of the Irish Parliament to dissolve that body. There are reports that funds were brought into Ireland, either as patronage or outright bribes to obtain the votes.
One of the big attractions of the Act of Union for Ireland's Catholic majority was the promise that it would lead to Catholic emancipation, which would mean a lessening of restrictive laws on the civil rights of Catholics.
However, that promise was unfulfilled until the Catholic Emancipation Movement of the 1820s, led by Daniel O'Connell.
The legislation passed the Irish Parliament and easily passed the British Parliament. It then took effect on January 1, 1801.
Results of the Act of Union
The ultimate agreement was that Ireland would give up its parliament, but would send 100 representatives to the British House of Commons and 28 representatives to Britain's House of Lords.
Having Irish representatives in the British Parliament would mean that Irish patriots, including Daniel O'Connell in the early 19th century, and Charles Stewart Parnell in the late 19th century, could bring the struggle for Irish independence directly to the seat of British power.
Indeed, considering the aggressive tactics often employed by O'Connell and Parnell, they may have been times when British politicians regretted bringing Irish representative into Parliamentary debates. And simply by having Irish members participating in debates, the issue of Ireland's desire for self-government could never be completely ignored.
