LECTURE 3

‘THE CATHOLIC QUESTION’

“Confessional state”

“Confessional state”

Political - full citizenship

“Confessional state”

Political - full citizenship

Economic - supported by state taxation (‘tithe’)

• Presbyterians and Catholics

• Presbyterians and Catholics

• Ideologically separate

• Presbyterians and Catholics

• Ideologically separate

• Geographically separate

• Presbyterians and Catholics

• Ideologically separate

• Geographically separate

• Briefly allied in 1790s

Reform of Parliament

Reform of Parliament

• Wider franchise

• Fewer small boroughs

• More MPs for larger constituencies

• Reform taken up by Volunteers

• Dungannon Convention 1782

• Petition to Parliament - rejected

• Reform minority in Parliament

Failure of reform movement

Failure of reform movement

• Opposition of Parliament

Failure of reform movement

• Opposition of Parliament

• Internal division - admission of non-Anglicans to political sphere

‘Catholic Question’

‘Catholic Question’

• Church did not recognise British kings

‘Catholic Question’

• Church did not recognise British kings

• Supported Stuart kings in exile

‘Catholic Question’

• Church did not recognise British kings

• Supported Stuart kings in exile

• ‘Penal Laws’ - restrictions on property, parliament, voting

‘Catholic Question’

• Pope recognises British kings 1767

‘Catholic Question’

• Pope recognises British kings 1767

• Catholic committee - dominated by landowners

‘Catholic Question’

• Pope recognises British kings 1767

• Catholic committee - dominated by landowners

• 1778 - removal of laws on land - in return for soldiers

‘Catholic Question’

• Pope recognises British kings 1767• Catholic committee - dominated by

landowners• 1778 - removal of laws on land - in

return for soldiers• Hope for further reform in 1780s - came

to nothing

Impact of French Revolution

Impact of French Revolution

• Possibility of transformation of political system

Impact of French Revolution

• Possibility of transformation of political system

• New members of Catholic Committee - merchants, tradesmen - more radical

Impact of French Revolution

• Possibility of transformation of political system

• New members of Catholic Committee - merchants, tradesmen - more radical

• Turned attention to London

• Struggle within Catholic Committee - radicals, conservatives

• Struggle within Catholic Committee - radicals, conservatives

• Both groups attempt to mobilise Cathoic population

• Struggle within Catholic Committee - radicals, conservatives

• Both groups attempt to mobilise Catholic population

• National Convention December 1792

• Struggle within Catholic Committee - radicals, conservatives

• Both groups attempt to mobilise Catholic population

• National Convention December 1792

• County delegates chosen by parish delegates

• Struggle within Catholic Committee - radicals, conservatives

• Both groups attempt to mobilise Catholic population

• National Convention December 1792

• County delegates chosen by parish delegates

• Politicised Catholic population

• Struggle within Catholic Committee - radicals, conservatives

• Both groups attempt to mobilise Catholic population

• National Convention December 1792

• County delegates chosen by parish delegates

• Politicised Catholic population

• Addressed petitions to London

Effect of Revolution on London

Effect of Revolution on London• Allied with Rome - counter-revolution

Effect of Revolution on London• Allied with Rome - counter-revolution

• War with France 1793 - need for Catholic soldiers, local militia

Effect of Revolution on London• Allied with Rome - counter-revolution

• War with France 1793 - need for Catholic soldiers, local militia

• Catholic Relief Act 1793 - vote, guns

Effect of Revolution on London• Allied with Rome - counter-revolution

• War with France 1793 - need for Catholic soldiers, local militia

• Catholic Relief Act 1793 - vote, guns

• 1795 State founds Maynooth College

• Note - Irish Catholic Church as an institution was opposed to radical politics

• Continuously opposed revolutionary activity

• Some priests involved - exceptional