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Continuity and change in the aims and methods of constitutional nationalism in Ireland 1800-1850. - page 1
Keywords: ireland constitutional nationalism 1800 1850 19th century continuity change daniel o'connell
By exploiit on 19/06/2010
Level: A Level (Year 13)
Page Number: 1 of 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6It is evident that continuity, rather than change, was the key feature of the aims and methods of constitutional nationalism during the period 1800-1850, and the following essay will explore this assertion. By first looking at early calls for catholic emancipation and repeal of the Act of Union through Henry Grattan and his contemporaries, and comparing these with Daniel O’Connell’s campaigns for both emancipation and repeal, reviewing what each wanted and the ways in which they planned to achieve their aims, it will become apparent that continuity was arguably the key feature.
The initial advocator of catholic emancipaton was Henry Grattan, an MP representing Dublin from 1806-1820. Grattan, although a Protestant himself, sought the reduction and removal of restrictions placed on catholics, including the repeal of the last of the Penal Laws, and to address the “uniform exclusion [of Catholics] from representative politics” (Alvin Jackson).William Plunkett, a contemporary of Grattan, aimed also to achieve emancipation and continued Grattan’s efforts after his death in 1820. Both understood that a British government so staunchly opposed to the idea of emancipation would need some form of compromise in order to even consider granting it. For this reason, both men decided to campaign for catholic emancipation, along with which would come a veto allowing the government overall authority in regards to Episcopal appointments. Although both Grattan and Plunkett never succeeded in gaining emancipation, they proved successful in pushing bills further with each attempt. A synoptic link within constitutional nationalism appears when in 1823, Daniel O’Connell continued to campaign for catholic emancipation. Like Grattan and Plunkett, O’Connell aimed on achieving the same freedom for catholics. However, O’Connell’s aims did change from those of his predecessors, as he abandoned the inclusion of the veto and campaigned solely for emancipation.
As constitutional nationalists, both Grattan and O’Connell were obstinate that only peaceful methods would be used in their campaigns. Both were also convinced that their best chance of gaining emancipation was to work with the government of the day. The introductions of bills to the houses of parliament exemplify this; Grattan himself introduced bills in 1808 and 1813, and William Plunkett introduced another in 1821. Change is evident of course, in that O’Connell could not work in parliament as he was a catholic, and therefore unable to sit in the houses of parliament. A clear example of continuity in methodology between Grattan and O’Connell is the use of an organizational
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