Identity and Nationalism

1402-1624 Banned Welsh from senior civil office Banned the carrying of arms Property could not be bought in England Englishmen who married Welsh women came under

the Penal Laws.

The Laws in Wales ActThe creation of a single state

England and Wales.Effects?

Effects: Marcher lordships were abolished. Establishment of more Welsh counties. The legal establishment of the Council of Wales and the

Marches. MPs go to Westminster Popular amongst the Welsh gentry-equality under the

law. Creation of a peaceful Wales. BUT…. Damaging effect on Welsh identity, culture and

economy.

Effect on the Welsh language. The Acts of Union 1535, 1542.

The English language alone was to be used in administration and the law.

All administrators must only use English.

1546 First printed book in Welsh. 1567 Translation of Prayer Book and New Testament

into Welsh. 1588: Translation of the whole Bible into Welsh- its

influence. This period also represents the end of Catholicism in

Wales (except for small numbers in SE Wales)

1707 Edward Lhuyd’s Archaeologia Britannica. Beginnings of Celtic Studies.

Mid 18th century- the beginnings of Welsh non-conformity. Howel Harris. Rejection of Anglicanism.

1737-61: the circulating schools of Griffith Jones

1743 The Methodist Association in Wales

Key names: Howell Harris, Daniel Rowlands and the most prominent: William Williams Pantycelyn. (often just called Pantycelyn).

Methodism in Wales was a break with Anglicanism (not officially until the early 19th century). It was an evangelical form of Protestantism inspired by the works of Calvin.

Pantycelyn was a great writer of religious poems (we would call them hymns) still popular today.

Another great eighteenth century Welsh religious writer was Ann Griffiths (1776-1805), who died shortly after childbirth at the early age of 29.

Following her death her hymns were written down by her maid’s husband. They are love-songs, full of vivid images and metphors, reflecting a deep knowledge of the Bible and the beliefs of the Non-conformists (all the non-Anglican versions of Protestantism).

By the nineteenth century, Welsh Nonconformity was no longer a radical force in religious terms, but rather a social force and institution that dominated all Welsh aspects of Welsh culture.

Religious leaders were now the leaders of society in Wales and they disapproved of the older folk culture of Wales.

Beginnings of industrialisation in Wales 1757.

Iron works, coal-mining, tin works.

Dowlais, Merthyr Tydful, Big Pit.

Beginnings of industrialisation in Wales:

The first iron-works were in Hirwaun in South Wales (1757).

The centre of Welsh culture and history shifts to the south-east, the iron works and then the coal industry.

Wales had by then (late 18th century and 19th century) become a non-conformist Protestant nation, largely Welsh-speaking (only) and for most of the population living in an industrialsed environment (especially after 1860).

First census in Wales 1801. Population of Wales 587,000. Separation of Welsh Methodists from the Church of

England (Anglicans). Merthyr Riots 1831. Beginnings of the unions – representation of the

workers. Rebecca Riots 1839-44.

This unrest led to the Rebecca Riots from 1839 until the middle of the 1840s. The rioters main target were the numerous tollgates erected by the various turnpike trusts established at the end of the eighteenth century. The rioters, men dressed in women's clothing and known as the Daughters of Rebecca, would attack and destroy the tollgates. The protest movement attracted widespread support and it was not long before the attacks widened, the Carmarthen Workhouse was attacked and both landowners and magistrates were threatened.

The government began an enquiry into education in Wales.

It consisted of three commissioners from England who knew no Welsh and based their work on the evidence given by Anglican ministers.

The report mentioned that schools often only had English speaking teachers and pupils who only knew Welsh. The textbooks were all in English.

In fact, most children learned Welsh literacy in the Sunday schools run by the Welsh Chapels (non-conformist churches).

The report also concluded that the Welsh were lazy, immoral and ignorant and that this was a consequence of the Welsh language and non-conformity.

There was a furious reaction led by one Robert Jones Derfel.

It can be argued that the reaction to this prejudiced report led to the self-governance of Wales movement.

‘One of the inevitable results of the report was its effect on the nation's mind and psyche. It was at this time that ordinary Welsh people began to believe that they could only improve themselves socially through education and the ability to speak and communicate in English’.

CYMRU/WALES (in the 19th century)

1886- the Cymru Fydd movement is founded. 1898-the foundation of the South Wales Miners’

Federation. The ‘FED’. 1916-Lloyd George becomes first Welsh prime-

minister of the UK. 1925 Plaid Cymru is founded. The National Party of

Wales. Formany decades is in the political dessert but by the 1990s is one of the main forces in Welsh politics.

Following the Reform Act of 1884, the majority of the adult males of Wales were given the vote. Most of them were content to support the Liberal Party, some because of their Nonconformist loyalties and others because they considered Liberalism to be an umbrella movement capable of accommodating a wide range of radical causes.

Liberalism: in 1885 . All but five of the 35 parliamentry seats were won by the Liberal party.

Amongst these were such as David Lloyd George and Tom Ellis. The liberals championed the cause of the non-conformist tenant farmers and all those who believed that the diversity and special needs of Wales needed to be addressed.out of this grew the ‘Young Wales’ movement and calls for self-government.

The growth of nationalism- The very concept of Wales as a nation. At the turn of the century (c1899), the Welsh language

was spoken by over one million people, and there was every indication that Welsh could become the language of law, science and politics.

Yet, by the early years of the 20th century, the numbers of Welsh speakers had fallen to less than 50% of the Welsh population.

However, notions of national liberation were slow to get off the ground. Most liberal leaders were luke-warm, and the ideology of Britishness (Empire, Queen, law) pervaded the Welsh nation.

In 1900, Keir Hardie was elected in Merthyr Tudful (South Wales) as the first socialist MP in Wales. This signalled an end of an era.

During the first two decades of the twentieth century there was a sense of optimism in Wales which saw the creation of the University of Wales, the National Library of Wales, the National Museum of Wales (Cardiff).

The regaining of a sense of Welsh history was being promoted by such historians as O.M.Edwards.

by 1911, two thirds of the Welsh population lived in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire (SE Wales).

Lloyd George: social justice, and the creation of a pension scheme.

Life in rural Cardiganshire- tuberculosis, maternal mortality.

Yet, in 1914, still only five of the 34 Welsh MPs were socialist (Labour Party).

The Tonypandy riots in 1910, followed by the military occupation of the Rhondda Valley in 1911 (controlled by Winston Churchill).

The growth in syndicalism (unions). The three-year strike at the Penrhyn Quarry in NW

Wales. South Wales became very militant. The 1915 miners’

strike in the middle of WW1. General strike and miners; lockout in 1926.

Labour won half of the constituencies in 1922. In 1931, Labour held 16 seats in South Wales. It reached its peak in 1966 with 32 seats out of 36

(61% of the popular vote).

Over the next few years following WW1 there was a steady increase in the number of Labour councillors and MPs in Wales, and in 1922, Labour won half the Welsh parliamentary seats - setting the scene for the party's hegemony in Welsh politics over coming decades.

The national union of mineworkers was affiliated to the Labour Party which meant that MPs were often sponsored by the Union.

Growth in Welsh nationalism and national consciousness.

1936-the burning of the bombing school in Penyberth. (Saunders Lewis, D.J.Williams, Lewis Valentine).

Saunders Lewis’ “Fate of the Language” radio lecture in 1962.

1962- the formation of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg/the Welsh Language Society (non-violent pressure group, civil disobedience).

He discussed the celebrated case of Trefor and Eileen Beasley of Llangennech who, between 1952 and 1960, refused to pay their local taxes unless the tax demands were in Welsh. The local authority (Llanelli Rural District) was 84% Welsh-speaking in 1951, and Lewis pointed out that all the Rural District's councillors and officials were Welsh speakers.[

Period of civil disobedience by members of the Welsh Language Society. Two major campaigns:

◦Road signs in Welsh.

◦The creation of a Welsh-language television channel.

‘In 1956, a private bill sponsored by Liverpool City Council was brought before Parliament to develop a water reservoir from theTryweryn Valley. The development would include the flooding of Capel Celyn. By obtaining authority via an Act of Parliament, Liverpool City Council would not require planning consent from the relevant Welsh local authorities. This, together with the fact that the village was one of the last Welsh-only speaking communities, ensured that the proposals became deeply controversial’.

What happened in Capel celyn gave an impetus to Welsh ‘devolution’ (self-governance).

It was clear that at the time Wales was sorely lacking in in governance of any sort.

1964 Welsh Office, Secretary of State. Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru 1963. Bombings. (six years). 1965 Llyn Celyn reservoir opened. 2005 Liverpool City Council apologizes. Enya’r song ‘Dan Y Dwr’. Poem by R.S. Thomas ‘Reservoirs’.

Gwynfor Evans

1964-Creation of the Welsh Office, and James Griffiths appointed first Secretary of State for Wales.

1967-first Welsh Language Act.(‘equal status’in law-courts)

1973-Kilbrandon Commission recommends creation of regional parliament for Wales.

It will be three decades before it happens.

1979- first referendum on Welsh parliament (assembly). The ‘no’s win.

1982-Welsh-language television channel (S4C) set up. 1988- creation of the Welsh language board as a

consultative body. By 1990s the Welsh language receives much more

recognition.

1991- census reveals increase in numbers of those able to speak Wales.

1993-Second Welsh Language Act passed. 1999 – Welsh National Assembly opens in Cardiff. 2011- Appointment of first Language Commissioner 2012-

In July 1997, the British Government published a White Paper, A Voice for Wales, which outlined proposals for devolution in Wales.

A referendum was held on 18 September 1997. It was very close: 559,419 for and 552,698 against. Just over half the electorate voted.

The establishment of the national Assembly for Wales in May 1999 changed the nature of politics in Wales by creating a new style of government in which decisions and policies were focused on Wales.

Wales remains part of the UK. New powers. Fewer powers than Scotland.

The establishment of the National Assembly for Wales in May 1999 changed the nature of politics in Wales by creating a new style of government in which decisions and policies were focused on Wales.

Wales remains part of the UK. New powers. http://www.assemblywales.org/sen-home.htm

1991- census reveals increase in numbers of those able to speak Wales. How?

1993-Second Welsh Language Act passed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Welsh_Language_Act_1993

'in the course of public business and the administration of justice, so far as is reasonably practicable, the Welsh and English languages are to be treated on the basis of equality.'

Basically the Act did three things: set up the Welsh Language Board, answerable to the

Secretary of State for Wales, with the duty of promoting the use of Welsh and ensuring compliance with the other provisions.

gave Welsh speakers the right to speak Welsh in court proceedings

obliged all organisations in the public sector providing services to the public in Wales to treat Welsh and English on an equal basis

In July 1997, the British Government published a White Paper, A Voice for Wales, which outlined proposals for devolution in Wales.

A referendum was held on 18 September 1997. It was very close: 559,419 for and 552,698 against. Just over half the electorate voted.

The establishment of the National Assembly for Wales in May 1999 changed the nature of politics in Wales by creating a new style of government in which decisions and policies were focused on Wales.

Wales remains part of the UK.