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The Land War - The Land Act 1870 - Coggle Diagram
The Land War - The Land Act 1870
Legal recognition of the Ulster Custom where it already existed
the provisions affected about 60,000 tenants
recognised the customary rights of tenants to 'free sale'
tenants had to proves that there tendency was subject to custom under the rights granted
it was expensive and few tenants could take their case to court so had limited impact
compensation for disturbance
Act made limited but inadequate attempt at giving security of tenure
done through payment of compensation from 1 to 7 years of rent depending on the value of the holding
right to compensation for improvement or 'disturbance'
landlords could find it economically viable to evict tenants
Gladstone believed this would be sufficient to deter landlords from evictions but critics said it was not
rent should not be exorbitant
no real provision for limiting rents
fell short of demand
mostly unsuccessful
Rise in the economic circumstances of tenant farmers in 1870-78
rise in their standard of living
price of annual products increased by 60% which increased incomes and spending power
evictions weren't prevalent post famine which increased prosperity so only 3% were evicted 1870-78
landlords didn't want to increase rent sue to fear of nonpayment as they preferred steady income over short term profit
expansion of railway network and improvements in transportation meant Irish farmers could tap into lucrative markets
Good economic recovery post famine due to shift from tillage to pastoral farming
The Bright Clause
allowed to borrow up to 2/3 of the cost from the commissioners of Public Works with 5% interest over 35 years
insufficient as tenants had too raise too much capital to afford to buy the land (only 87 bought)
Gladstone didn't want to undermine landlords because he believed their influence was 'essential'
Act overall was disappointment to tenant farmers as it was 'cautiously made' and was kind to landlords