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Introduction

Why Did O'Connell Achieve More For The Nationalist Cause In Ireland Than Young Ireland Or The Fenians? Although O'Connell was not entirely successful himself in forwarding the nationalist cause in Ireland and achieving all that he aspired to it can be said that he at least did achieve more for the nationalist cause in Ireland than both Young Ireland and the Fenians. Part of the reason for his success over both the Fenians and Young Ireland lies within the aims of the three groups. For instance, through the Catholic Association O'Connell attempted to embrace wider aims than just achieving Catholic emancipation. These wider aims include electoral reform, reform of the Church of Ireland, tenant's rights and economical development. These aims were an important factor in trying to advance the whole interest of the Irish, Catholic community, and so as a result these aims attracted a wider range of supporters, which in turn is another factor as to why O'Connell and the Catholic Association achieved more than the Fenians or Young Ireland. In contrast, the aims of Young Ireland and the Fenians were relatively narrow in terms of embracing problems of the whole Irish, Catholic community. For example they both wanted a repeal of the Act of Union as well as an overthrow of British power. In addition Young Ireland also wanted to overthrow the Landlord system in Ireland; this was the only aim that attempted to make changes outside of Irish Catholic interests. ...read more.

Middle

This was particularly helped by the involvement of the Catholic Church and parish priests. Therefore these local activities helped to create the association into a national organisation. Further more, the organisation of O'Connell's Catholic Association was much better, this can be seen in the organisation of the 'monster meetings' where as the Fenians and Young Ireland on the whole only carried out small acts as can be seen by 'the battle of Widow McCormack's cabbage patch.' Where as Young Ireland and the Fenians had their own paper to gain more support and spread their message, the Catholic Association relied on public posters as well as the press. Therefore their campaigning was more effective and efficient than the Fenians or Young Ireland. The effective organisation of the Catholic Association was largely due to its leadership. In O'Connell the Catholic Association had a clear, designated and strong leader who was a highly effective public speaker and was able to identify with his audience. His reputation lead to him being known as 'the Deliverer,' and became the "incarnation," of the peasantry's hopes and ambitions. In contrast both the Fenians and Young Ireland had no specific, central and clear leader and so this was less effective in winning over support. Also many of the different leaders had different ideas and aims for the organisations and so not strong and united as the Catholic Association was. ...read more.

Conclusion

By 1834 the Whig government were especially reliant on Irish support in order for them to continue in office. The same cannot be said for either Young Ireland or the Fenians. The strong government response to their actions was partly to blame for their failure to achieve much for the nationalist cause in Ireland. This can be seen by in 1865 the British government arrested many leading Fenians and suppressed their newspaper, The Irish People as a result of a plot by the Irish Republic Brotherhood (IRB) and the USA to overthrow British power and create a republic. Further more three Fenians were also executed for the murder of a policeman. Therefore the strong response to the Fenians and Young Ireland by the British government meant that there were few successes to the nationalist cause as a result of their organisations being more tightly suppressed than the Catholic Association was. Therefore, in conclusion it can be seen that the reasons as to why O'Connell achieved more for the nationalist cause in Ireland were a combination of the association's aims, methods particularly the non- violent ones and the important support that it gained as a result of it. The lack of success of the Fenians and Young Ireland compared to that of O'Connell's catholic Association were also down to the context of time and the strength and response of the British government to the organisations. ?? ?? ?? ?? 1 ...read more.

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Modern European History, 1789-1945 section.