The Penal Era And The Age Of Ascendancy
The 1700s in Ireland's history is alternately referred to as the “Penal Era”, and the “Age of Ascendancy”. Under these times Irish Catholics descended deeper into desperation and deprivation. The Penal laws suppressed the Catholic religion which made it harder for family's to buy land. When a Catholic landowner died the land was equally distributed to all sons. This caused the lands to be devalued and gradually reduced them to small ownings . Many other Irish lived as tenant farmers of English landlords. The amount of crops was sold to pay rent for the land. They mostly grew potatoes, but most of them were made of poor quality because of overworked soil. The Irish did have a harsh time, but there are still other restrictions that made it more
impossible to live in this kind of society. Other restrictions under the penal law were that they could not vote, hold office, or send their children to Catholics schools.
• Irish Catholics lived in poverty
• Couldn't buy land
• Many Irish rented land from the English
• Grew crops to pay for rent
• They couldn't vote, hold office, or send children to catholic schools
• The penal era severely restricted Catholic liberties