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history 2nd year summer exam (Irish history) - Coggle Diagram
history 2nd year summer exam (Irish history)
Catholic Emancipation
The process of reducing and eventually abolishing restrictions placed on Roman Catholics in England and Ireland, particularly legal, political, and civil disabilities.
Historical Context:
Penal Laws (17th-18th centuries): Series of laws aimed at suppressing Catholic influence after the Reformation & Glorious Revolution.
Catholics barred from voting, sitting in Parliament, holding public office, owning land above certain values, etc.
Catholics were the majority in Ireland, but a political minority under British rule.
Key Events:
Act of Union (1801)
Ireland merged with Great Britain to form the UK.
Promises of Catholic Emancipation were made but not immediately fulfilled.
Daniel O’Connell & Catholic Association (1823)
:
Peaceful mass movement pushing for emancipation.
"Catholic Rent" (1d a month) funded campaigning.
1778–1793: Early Relief Acts
Allowed Catholics to own property, enter certain professions, limited political rights.
county clare election (1828)
O’Connell elected MP despite being legally ineligible (as a Catholic).
Created constitutional crisis.
Key Figures:
Daniel O’Connell: "The Liberator," key leader of Catholic Emancipation.
Duke of Wellington: Prime Minister who passed the 1829 Act to prevent unrest.
The famine (1845-1852)
causes:
Potato blight (plant disease).
Over-reliance on potatoes.
British government gave little help.
effects:
1 million died from hunger and disease.
1 million emigrated (left Ireland to USA, UK, etc.).
Irish population dropped by about 25%.
Caused huge suffering and poverty.
Increased anger at British rule.
results:
Changed farming (less potato dependence).
Boosted Irish nationalism.
Long-term hatred towards British government.
1 million died.
1 million emigrated (left Ireland).
Population dropped.
Evictions (people forced off land).
Workhouses were overcrowded.
long term affects:
Less potatoes grown.
Irish anger at Britain grew.
Many Irish moved to USA, Britain, Australia.
Impact of the GAA
cultural impact
Saved Irish sports from dying out.
Boosted Irish identity (especially after the Famine & British rule).
Gave Irish people their own sporting heroes.
Important for Irish pride.
backround
Founded in 1884 in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Goal: Protect and promote Irish sports (Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, handball).
Part of the wider Gaelic Revival (along with Irish language & culture).
Political impact
Linked to Irish nationalism (some GAA leaders were freedom fighters).
The GAA was seen as standing up to British rule.
Rule 21 (until 2001) banned British soldiers & police from playing.
Symbol of Irish independence & self-respect.
The rise and impact of nationalism and unionism in Ireland, 1911-1923
key terms
Nationalism:
Wanted Irish independence or Home Rule.
Unionism:
Wanted to stay united with Britain.
home rule crisis (1912-1914)
Third Home Rule Bill introduced in 1912.
Nationalists (led by John Redmond & IPP) supported it.
Unionists (led by Edward Carson) opposed it.
Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) formed (1913) to resist Home Rule.
Nationalists responded by forming the Irish Volunteers (1913).
impact of WW1
Home Rule delayed.
Redmond encouraged Nationalists to fight for Britain.
Irish Volunteers split — some stayed loyal, others prepared for rebellion.
1916 easter rising
Small group of Nationalists staged a rebellion in Dublin.
Leaders (e.g., Padraig Pearse, James Connolly) were executed.
Public sympathy grew for rebels.
Shift from Home Rule to full independence (Republicanism).
Rise of Sinn Fèin (1917-1918)
Sinn Féin gained support after Rising.
Won 1918 General Election in Ireland.
Set up Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) in 1919.
War of independence (1919-1921
IRA guerrilla campaign against British forces.
Led by Michael Collins, de Valera.
British used Black and Tans & Auxiliaries.
Nationalism
Unionism
Ulster Resistance:
Strongly opposed Home Rule.
UVF armed and ready to fight against it.
Supported by Conservative Party in Britain.
Partition of Ireland
Government of Ireland Act 1920 created Northern Ireland (6 counties).
Allowed Unionists to stay part of the UK.
Partition became permanent after the Treaty.
opposition to Home Rule
Strongly against the Third Home Rule Bill.
Organised the Ulster Covenant (1912) – 500,000 signatures promising to resist Home Rule.
Formed the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in 1913 to fight against Home Rule.
WW1
UVF members joined the British Army (36th Ulster Division).
Fought bravely in battles like The Somme (1916).
Increased Unionist pride & loyalty to Britain.
Unionism after 1921
Northern Ireland parliament opened in 1921.
James Craig became Northern Ireland’s first Prime Minister.
Unionists controlled Northern Ireland politically and economically.
Continued to defend the Union with Britain.
parlimentary tradition in irish polictics
what is it?
Ireland has a parliamentary democracy. That means the people elect the parliament, and the government comes from the parliament.
Think: People → Dáil → Government.
whats the parliment called?
The Irish Parliament is called the Oireachtas, and it's made of three parts:
Dáil Éireann
– the real powerhouse (like the UK House of Commons).
Seanad Éireann
– the Senate (less powerful, reviews laws).
The President
– symbolic, but signs laws.
Tip to remember:
Dáil = Doers, Seanad = Second opinion, President = Paper signer.
where did this system come from?
It came from British rule, like many former colonies – based on the Westminster system.
But in 1919, Irish MPs refused to go to London. They set up their own Dáil in Dublin — the First Dáil. That’s when the Irish parliamentary tradition really started.
Just remember:
1919 = First Irish Dáil = Independence in action.
key features
Government must answer to the Dáil → this is called Executive accountability.
Ministers work together → called Collective Cabinet Responsibility.
Committees check laws and decisions.
The Dáil is boss when it comes to making laws.
Simple rule:
Dáil leads, Government obeys, Committees check.