O’Connell
- 1. O’CONNELL REPEAL OF THE ACT OF UNION
- 2. REFORM OR REPEAL? Claimed his ultimate aim was always repeal For church and Catholic middle classes the priority was reform New Whig government’s priority was the restoration of law and order Through the 1830s he worked with the Whigs to achieve considerable measure of reform in Ireland, eg education, Poor Law
- 3. CHANGE OF TACTIC Broke alliance with the Whigs in 1840 In 1840 formed the National Repeal Association 1840 the Tories came to power under Peel
- 4. REPEAL CAMPAIGN Repeal rested on the support of the peasantry and the Catholic Church Had little support this time from the middle classes Had support of small group of radicals, Young Ireland Financed by the repeal rent Organisation of peaceful monster meetings
- 5. END OF REPEAL In 1843 Peel banned the monster meeting planned for Clontarf in October In spite of the wishes of some of his supporters, O’Connell acquiesced This marks the end of repeal
- 6. WHY DID IT FAIL? Absence of middle class Catholic support Differences with Young Ireland Disenfranchisement of 40 shilling freeholders United opposition of Irish and English protestants Peel in position of strength, in contrast to his position during emancipation crisis
- 7. O’CONNELL’S LAST YEARS Went into permanent decline after 1843 Split with Young Ireland Priority given to dealing with famine Died in 1847
- 8. VERDICT Succeeded in gaining Catholic emancipation and thus undermining the Protestant Ascendancy Succeeded in mobilising popular support for political ends Made possible the existence of a powerful Irish party at Westminster Failed to gain repeal Introduced sectarianism into Irish politics