impact of O'Connell on British politics
The impact of O’Connell on British politics
Daniel O’Connell was a well educated young man born into a family of the Irish Catholic aristocracy. Although O’Connell’s family were reasonably wealthy, discriminatory legislation denied them the status, opportunity and influence that such means would generally afford. It was through his well rounded Catholic education that O’Connell became acquainted with the pro democracy radicals of the time. From then on he would strive to be a thorn in Britain’s side in relation of various campaigns for reform. Such campaigns would include; Catholic emancipation, free trade, prison and law reform, the abolition of slavery and Jewish emancipation. O’Connell longed to enter into the arena of British politics. He believed that for Ireland to progress, the Irish would have to assert themselves politically rather through force of arms as Britain was a militarily far superior force. However, while O’Connell was involved in the defence of government, it was that same government that was increasing its persecution of the Catholic people, of which he was a member.1 In 1811 he established the Catholic board, which campaigned solely for the acquisition of Catholic emancipation. Then in 1823, along with Richard Lalor Sheil and Thomas Wyre he funded the Catholic Association. Unlike the Catholic board, it incorporated other aims to better the position of Irish Catholics such as; electoral reform, reform of the church of Ireland, tenants rights and economic development.2 Two years after its establishment, O’Connell initiated the strategy that made it the most powerful political force in Great Britain. He achieved widespread interest from the masses of Catholic peasant through extremely low membership dues of just one penny per year. Due to the widespread subscription, the Association raised a large sum of money in its first year of operation and O’Connell now had the backing of the masses. The finance raised to the membership dues
Daniel O’Connell was a well educated young man born into a family of the Irish Catholic aristocracy. Although O’Connell’s family were reasonably wealthy, discriminatory legislation denied them the status, opportunity and influence that such means would generally afford. It was through his well rounded Catholic education that O’Connell became acquainted with the pro democracy radicals of the time. From then on he would strive to be a thorn in Britain’s side in relation of various campaigns for reform. Such campaigns would include; Catholic emancipation, free trade, prison and law reform, the abolition of slavery and Jewish emancipation. O’Connell longed to enter into the arena of British politics. He believed that for Ireland to progress, the Irish would have to assert themselves politically rather through force of arms as Britain was a militarily far superior force. However, while O’Connell was involved in the defence of government, it was that same government that was increasing its persecution of the Catholic people, of which he was a member.1 In 1811 he established the Catholic board, which campaigned solely for the acquisition of Catholic emancipation. Then in 1823, along with Richard Lalor Sheil and Thomas Wyre he funded the Catholic Association. Unlike the Catholic board, it incorporated other aims to better the position of Irish Catholics such as; electoral reform, reform of the church of Ireland, tenants rights and economic development.2 Two years after its establishment, O’Connell initiated the strategy that made it the most powerful political force in Great Britain. He achieved widespread interest from the masses of Catholic peasant through extremely low membership dues of just one penny per year. Due to the widespread subscription, the Association raised a large sum of money in its first year of operation and O’Connell now had the backing of the masses. The finance raised to the membership dues
Bibliography: Denis Gwynn, Daniel O’Connell, The Irish Liberator, Hutchinson and Co. Ltd. Henry Boylan, A Dictionary of Irish Biography (3rd ed.) Dublin, Gill and MacMillan. History of parliament, 1820-1832, Vol 6. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/21-22/49/enacted Oliver MacDonagh, The life of Daniel O’Connell, 1991. Patrick M. Geoghegan, King Dan, Gill and Macmillan, 2008, Dublin. Paul Adelmann and Robert Pearse, Great Britain and the Irish question 1798-1922, Hodder Murray, London. Stewart Brown, The National Churches of England, Ireland and Scotland, 1801-46. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 2001.