"The Failure of the British to Solve the Irish Question Arises From Ignorance and A Racist, Imperialist Mentality", How Far Do You Agree With This View of British Policy?

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John Roderick, words: 2556

“The Failure of the British to Solve the Irish Question Arises

From Ignorance and A Racist, Imperialist Mentality”, How Far Do You Agree With This View of British Policy?

        The quotation above is a nationalist view of British policy in Ireland from an Irish perspective. The “Irish Question” is a very complex one to explain, as there is no specific definition. It has a number of facets and is a subject to change. British policy towards Ireland has also changed over time. In tackling this essay it is important to look at it from two different angles, perceptions at the time and looking at it with hindsight.

Britain conquered Ireland for strategic reasons. It is situated very close to Britain, and is an ideal staging point for an attack.  A desire for land and expansion of their empire was the main motive. Ireland was also important because it was prime land to give away to supporters of the King. Britain ran Ireland as it did the other of the countries within its empire. Until 1886, British policy was to retain the union whilst instituting some reforms but mainly maintaining order.

Ireland was ruled from London, and pressures came to give Ireland “Home Rule”, specifically from the “Irish Home Rule Party”. Home Rule intended to give the whole of Ireland a form of internal self-government within the UK. This policy came to dominate British politics from 1886 until 1914. Prime Minister Gladstone split the Liberal Party by converting to Home Rule, forming the Gladstonian Liberals and the Liberal Unionists. It is unclear whether Gladstone’s conversion was genuine belief or political expediency. Home Rule policy was not popular with Irish nationalists who wanted total independence, rather than devolution. It was strongly opposed by Ulster Protestants, who said,

“Home Rule Means Rome Rule.”

At this time the British can be seen as imperialist. By allowing Home Rule they were conceding to the Irish but not completely losing Ireland.

Protestants, especially in the Northeast, were strongly pro British and saw Home Rule as the first stage towards independence from the UK. This was strongly resented for many reasons, such as the economic link favored by many industrialists. Randolph Churchill, a prominent member of Home Rule opposition, once said to a crowd during a speech,

“Ulster will fight, and Ulster will be right.”

Showing his view that people in Ireland were prepared to fight for what they believed was right.

 The opposition party, the Conservatives were strongly against Home Rule too, and had full support of the Irish Unionist party. The links between Northeast Ireland and the Tories were further cemented when Andrew Bonar Law became Conservative leader. He instigated the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force, to oppose Home Rule by any means. Home Rule may have been used by the Conservatives as a political tool to gain power which shows a very ignorant approach by the British and how little respect they had for the Irish.

In 1886 the first Home Rule Bill was defeated in the Commons due to the defection of 96 liberals. By 1892 the Liberals had returned to power, after a short spell out of Parliament and were still eager to pass a Home Rule Bill. In 1893 a second attempt was defeated in the House of Lords. The House of Lords had an ulterior motive for rejecting it. Many members or their friends owned land in Ireland. They felt that an Irish Parliament would be hostile towards rich landowners. This ignorance was purely self-interest on the part of the Lords.

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In September 1914 a third Home Rule Bill was presented to Parliament. This brought bitter opposition from Ulster Protestants. Pro and anti-Home Rule groups in Ireland brought the country to the brink of civil war. There were two main factions, the Ulster Volunteer Force, a well armed and disciplined Protestant movement, and the Irish Volunteers who were poorly armed. The Bill was passed, but was suspended due to the start of War.

The Home Rule saga depicts the racist, imperialist mentality of some British, if you are looking at it from an Irish nationalist’s perspective. Many believed that ...

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