How Significant Were the Nationalist Leaders in Changing the Relationship Between Great Britain and Ireland in the Period 1815-1922?
How significant were the nationalist leaders in changing the relationship between Great Britain and Ireland in the period 1815-1922?
Robert Pearce cites the work of ‘outstanding nationalist leaders joining together to oppose the tyranny of England and compelling her to retreat and abandon most of Ireland’. Whilst O’Connell campaigned for the emancipation of Catholics, uniting them and bringing about political advancement, his significance is questionable; after 1840 he had failed to bring about repeal. In comparison Parnell finally made the image of Home Rule a realistic possibility and Collins who ultimately brought about negotiations of the Anglo-Irish treaty; effectively leading Ireland to freedom. In assessing the significance of the Irish nationalist leaders we must first consider who actually achieved what they set out to, as well as the other factors that undoubtedly had an effect on the relationship between the two nations, such as the effects of the 1916 Easter Rising, and how it lead to the strengthening of Sinn Fein.
Often referred to as ‘the liberator’ O’Connell’s significance is clear; the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829 enabled Catholic participation in politics and advanced it to no end. Whilst the desire for Catholic emancipation had been prominent since the early 19th century; it wasn’t until O’Connell’s development of the Catholic Association that presented itself as a genuine threat to British rule. The formation of the Catholic Rent in 1824 in response to the quick development of the association raised $20,000 in its first year. This was crucial to the funding of the large public meetings; it was this support that ultimately threatened the British government with approximately 85% of the population being Catholic. O’Connell’s methods also hold considerable significance, as the ‘originator of all basic strategies of Anglo-Irish constitutional relations’ his methods later seen in Collins use of Brinkmanship and in Parnell’s
Robert Pearce cites the work of ‘outstanding nationalist leaders joining together to oppose the tyranny of England and compelling her to retreat and abandon most of Ireland’. Whilst O’Connell campaigned for the emancipation of Catholics, uniting them and bringing about political advancement, his significance is questionable; after 1840 he had failed to bring about repeal. In comparison Parnell finally made the image of Home Rule a realistic possibility and Collins who ultimately brought about negotiations of the Anglo-Irish treaty; effectively leading Ireland to freedom. In assessing the significance of the Irish nationalist leaders we must first consider who actually achieved what they set out to, as well as the other factors that undoubtedly had an effect on the relationship between the two nations, such as the effects of the 1916 Easter Rising, and how it lead to the strengthening of Sinn Fein.
Often referred to as ‘the liberator’ O’Connell’s significance is clear; the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829 enabled Catholic participation in politics and advanced it to no end. Whilst the desire for Catholic emancipation had been prominent since the early 19th century; it wasn’t until O’Connell’s development of the Catholic Association that presented itself as a genuine threat to British rule. The formation of the Catholic Rent in 1824 in response to the quick development of the association raised $20,000 in its first year. This was crucial to the funding of the large public meetings; it was this support that ultimately threatened the British government with approximately 85% of the population being Catholic. O’Connell’s methods also hold considerable significance, as the ‘originator of all basic strategies of Anglo-Irish constitutional relations’ his methods later seen in Collins use of Brinkmanship and in Parnell’s