How effectively did Irish Catholic and nationalist leaders advance their cause in the years 1801-1921?

Authors Avatar

How effectively did Irish Catholic and nationalist leaders advance their cause in the years 1801-1921?

The Irish leaders between 1801 and 1921 all struggled against the British government for various concessions. The leaders in this time period are Daniel O'Connell, who pushed for Catholic Emancipation and the Repeal of the Act of Union. The groups Young Ireland and the Fenians managed to keep the ideals of nationalism alive. Charles Stewart Parnell was a nationalist member of the Home Rule League. After Parnell's death, the mantle fell to John Redmond, who re-united the Irish Parliamentary. Finally, the militant Irish Nationalist Organisation Sinn Fein, led by Eamon de Valera from 1916. To assess how effectively each leader was in advancing their causes, the trends of each leaders support, the tactics each leader used, the concessions they achieved, the betterment of the Irish peoples lives and whether or not the leader actually achieved what they set out to gain all need to be compared and assessed. The important thing about the leaders of Ireland between 1801 and 1921 is that each had a struggle against the British for the betterment of Ireland, and in the last criteria we will focus on how close they were to achieving their aims if they did not actually achieve their aims.

O'Connell was an expert at gaining mass support which was vital in his aim of Catholic Emancipation. To unify efforts for Emancipation the Catholic Association was created with a cheap membership fee called the Catholic Rent. By using open air meetings which were massive successes and the Church the Catholic Association O'Connell amassed support. All Catholics supported O'Connell and thanks to the Catholic Rent were able to show it. O'Connell was able to oppose Fitzgerald in the County Clare election where he won an easy victory. Electoral success was difficult for O'Connell because before Emancipation Catholics were unable to sit in Parliament. After O'Connell's achievements, leaders after could try to alter matters through legal means whilst taking seats in Parliament.

Parnell was elected as a Home Ruler due to his commanding figure and personality. Parnell gained skill at speaking to mass audiences, a tactic which had been vital in O'Connell's popularity. Once in the House of Commons Parnell became know for his aggression, making him a hero among Irish Nationalists. After the O’Shea divorce the Liberals refused to support Parnell, and soon the Clergy were calling for the Irish to stop supporting him, causing a huge loss in support.

Young Ireland believed in the use of violent agitation to gain Irish independence so had no support from the Church. Emerging just as the famine was beginning their abilities to gain support was reduced due to political apathy. Young Ireland could not sense the social and political vibrations and did not make use the Great Famine effectively.

The Fenians were a secret organisation set on forcibly overthrowing the power Britain had over Ireland. They were a secret organisation, so there was little they could do to gain support. They had little Catholic support because of their violent tactics which was a massive disadvantage, so they could never have the support of leaders like O’Connell.

John Redmond took control and united of the Home Rule Party in 1900. The merge with the anti-Parnellite's was more of necessity than skill, because the United Irish League was gaining popularity and was threatening to displace the IPP. This is not to say that Redmond was a bad leader, and the widespread support for him enabled him to support the unpopular World War One. The achievement of Home Rule caused Redmond to be more unpopular in Ulster than any leader before him, and 471,414 people from Ulster signed the Ulster Convent which was stated that they would use all means to retain the Union.

Join now!

Sinn Fein was a small militant group that was little know before the First World, but this all changed after the Easter Rebellion. The Catholic population were resentful of the treatment by the British after the Rising considering it was committed by the minority of a minority group. A 'historical myth' grew and Sinn Fein were named as the leaders of the uprising. Sinn Fein's popularity was furthered by policies introduced by the British later in 1916. Sinn Fein sensationalised their struggle, and a year the party had been reshaped into a revolutionary party ready to establish an Irish Republic. ...

This is a preview of the whole essay