Development of Irish hatred for the British

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Question 1 – The Past

Introduction

There have been many occurrences throughout history that may have created bitterness and hatred toward the British. Gradually they became deep-rooted into Nationalist society. Below are a few examples of them.

Development of Religious differences in the reign of Henry VIII

In the 1530’s the English tried to extend their control over the Irish. Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and set up his own Protestant Church in England, because he wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon. Beheading her would have angered Britain’s enemy France, and the Pope wouldn’t grant him a Catholic divorce. The problem was that he tried to enforce it in Ireland. Henry thought Ireland may be used as an invasion base for Britain’s Catholic enemies. Obviously the Irish didn’t like this and there was a danger of a rebellion. Many Catholics stayed loyal to the Catholic Church too. Laws were passed by Henry VIII to try and make the Irish adopt an English way of life. They included no moustaches, caps had to be dyed orange and houses built similar to English ones. Many Irish people didn’t like this and probably hated Henry for placing himself as Irelands king. He tried to totally change their lives to adopt an English, protestant one. Any Catholic isn’t going to change their life and religion just because someone told them to.

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Plantation

Elizabeth I was scared Ireland would ally with England’s Catholic enemies. She was determined to rule Ireland firmly. Her attempt ended in 1601. To reward her supporters, the lands taken from Catholics was given to the English and Scottish, if they swore an oath of loyalty. James I carried this even further and he began to do it fully in 1609. Soon nearly all the Catholics had were poor farmlands in the west. This created bitterness towards the English because all their lands and possessions had been took off them for doing nothing. They probably thought this was ...

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