Gladstone and Ireland

1
Gladstone and Ireland
2
Background

• Why the Irish were unhappy
• 5.75 million of which 4.5 million people were
  Catholic, yet the Church Of Ireland was the state
  religion but only represented around 750,000.
  Catholics had very little influence in a majority
  Catholic nation
• Many wanted to see Ireland regain its
  independence after the Act of Unions proved to be
  unpopular
• Social and economic factors, such as the potato
  famine, free trade further increased a call for
  independence from the Irish
• Previous ministers- such as Disraeli avoided the
  issue of Irish independence knowing that it would
  prove unpopular with the landed gentry and
  aristocratic supporters within his conservative
  party. Effectively little had been done, only
  attempts to ease religious grievances.
• GLADSTONE was seen as the man to transform and
  modernise Ireland

3
The Dissolution Of The Church Of Ireland

• The 1869 Irish Church Act
• Recognised as a major topic for legislation
• Involved breaking the link between church and
  state
• C.O.I became a voluntary organisation in January
  1871
• A tithe to the church no longer had to be paid by
  all Irishmen
• Irish Anglican Archbishops and Bishops no longer
  were to sit in the House of Lords
• These factors would have pleased the majority of
  the Catholics within Ireland and it did
  demonstrate some form of progression that their
  voice is being herd.

4
The Dissolution Of The Church Of Ireland

• Gladstone dissolved the Church of Ireland to
  achieve
• A compromise, firstly by easing religious tension
  the Catholic population in Ireland would have
  less social unrest
• This did happen, however arguments over
  compensation and the division of money- Anglicans
  wanted funds to be available to members of their
  clergy as pension and cover for loss of office.
  10 million was granted
• The Catholics wanted money for SECULAR purposes.
  Such as relief of poverty and education in
  Ireland. 13 million was granted.

5
Outcomes

• The Irish church act of 1869 was on the whole a
  successful piece of legislation.
• It did help to ease social trouble in Ireland by
  satisfying the Catholics, who were the majority,
  however it could also be viewed as a backhand
  measure to avoid the issue of Irish independence
  which was the key grievance.