Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 1 Irish nationalism: from agitation to civil war — Edexcel A-Level History
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Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 1 Irish nationalism: from agitation to civil war explained
Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 1 Irish nationalism: from agitation to civil war covers 2 specification points, including The demands of the Irish Volunteers and the… and The role of Isaac Butt and the Home Rule….
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Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
Agitation and rebellion, c1774–c1870: the demands of the Irish Volunteers and the United Irishmen (key development: the constitution of 1782 and the rebellion of 1798); the role of Daniel O’Connell and the Repeal Association; the Tithe Wars; the impact of Young Ireland and of the Irish Republican brotherhood (key developments: the 1848 rebellion and the 1867 Fenian Rising and executions).
Irish nationalism from c1774 to c1870 evolved through constitutional agitation and violent rebellion. The Irish Volunteers demanded free trade and legislative independence, achieved via the constitution of 1782. Conversely, the United Irishmen sought Catholic emancipation and a republic, culminating in the failed 1798 rebellion. Daniel O'Connell and the Repeal Association campaigned peacefully to repeal the Union, while the Tithe Wars violently resisted Anglican tithes. Young Ireland's 1848 rebellion was swiftly crushed. The Irish Republican Brotherhood launched the 1867 Fenian Rising; although a military failure, the subsequent executions of Fenians generated immense sympathy and momentum for future home rule campaigns.
The campaign for Home Rule, c1870–1910: the role of Isaac Butt and the Home Rule League; the role of Charles Stewart Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary Party. Towards civil war, 1910–23: Edward Carson and the UVF (key developments: the Ulster Covenant, the Curragh incident); changing attitudes and nationalist responses (key developments: the Easter Rising, the War of Independence/Anglo-Irish war, civil war and partition).
Home Rule meant Irish self-government within the Union. From c1870 Isaac Butt built constitutional nationalism: his Home Rule League (1873) and the Home Rule Party pressed for a Dublin parliament through persuasion and parliamentary argument, but progress was slow. From 1880 Charles Stewart Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary Party added discipline, obstruction and land agitation, linking Home Rule to tenant grievances; after his fall and death (1891) the party split, then reunited under John Redmond. From 1910 the third Home Rule bill (1914) provoked unionist resistance: Edward Carson and the UVF, the Ulster Covenant (1912) and the Curragh incident (1914). Nationalist responses shifted: the Easter Rising (1916), the War of Independence (1919–21), the Anglo-Irish Treaty, civil war (1922–23) and partition.
Your focus
- Outline the distinct demands of the Irish Volunteers and United Irishmen, including the 1782 constitution and 1798 rebellion.
- Analyse the role of Daniel O'Connell, the Repeal Association, and the significance of the Tithe Wars.
- Evaluate the impact of Young Ireland and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, including the 1848 and 1867 rebellions and executions.
Show all 7 objectives
- Describe the roles of Isaac Butt and the Home Rule League in the campaign for Home Rule.
- Explain the role of Charles Stewart Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary Party in the Home Rule campaign.
- Analyse how Carson, the UVF, the Ulster Covenant and the Curragh incident contributed to the move towards civil war.
- Evaluate changing attitudes and nationalist responses, including the Easter Rising, the War of Independence, civil war and partition.
Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 1 Irish nationalism: from agitation to civil war exam tips
Marking Points
- Distinguishes early demands: the Irish Volunteers sought legislative independence and free trade (achieving the 1782 constitution), whereas the United Irishmen demanded Catholic emancipation and a republic.
- Analyses the 1798 rebellion: led by the United Irishmen, it failed due to poor coordination and repression, resulting in the Act of Union 1800.
- Evaluates Daniel O'Connell and the Repeal Association: mass peaceful meetings aimed at repealing the Union, alongside the Tithe Wars resisting Anglican Church payments.
- Assesses the impact of Young Ireland and the IRB: the 1848 rebellion failed, but the 1867 Fenian Rising and subsequent executions in Manchester aroused lasting public sympathy.
- Explains Butt's methods: founding the Home Rule League and leading the Home Rule Party, using parliamentary persuasion and building an alliance of Irish MPs rather than physical force.
- Explains Parnell's contribution: leadership of the Irish Parliamentary Party, tighter party discipline, obstruction tactics, and the link between Home Rule and the land question.
- Explains the unionist response: Carson's leadership of the UVF, the Ulster Covenant as mass mobilisation, and the Curragh incident as a sign of army and unionist resistance.
- Explains changing nationalist attitudes and responses: the Easter Rising, the War of Independence, the Treaty, civil war and partition, showing how constitutional nationalism was overtaken by more radical methods.
- Uses accurate chronology and terms, such as Home Rule League, Irish Parliamentary Party, UVF, Ulster Covenant, Curragh incident, Easter Rising, War of Independence, civil war and partition.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Compare methods: contrast the constitutional approach of O'Connell's Repeal Association with the physical force of the United Irishmen, Young Ireland, and the IRB.
- 💡For the Tithe Wars, explain the link to Catholic grievances and how agrarian violence forced the government to pass the Commutation Act 1838.
- 💡Plan by factor: Butt, Parnell, Carson and the UVF, then changing nationalist responses, so every clause of the statement is covered.
- 💡Support each point with a specific development and date, such as the Home Rule League, the Ulster Covenant or the Easter Rising.
- 💡Link causation and change: explain why constitutional nationalism weakened and more radical nationalism grew after 1910.
Common Mistakes
- Error: stating the 1782 constitution gave Ireland full independence. Correction: it gave legislative independence but the British monarch and executive retained control.
- Error: claiming the Irish Volunteers sought Catholic emancipation. Correction: the Volunteers primarily sought legislative independence and free trade; Catholic emancipation and republicanism were key demands of the United Irishmen.
- Error: saying the 1867 Fenian Rising was a military success. Correction: it was a failure militarily, but the executions of Fenians generated sympathy and support for Irish nationalism.
- Treating Home Rule as immediate independence: correct this by explaining that Home Rule meant self-government within the Union, not a republic.
- Confusing the UVF with the Irish Volunteers: correct this by identifying the UVF as Carson's unionist force and the Irish Volunteers as a nationalist body.
- Assuming the Curragh incident was a battle: correct this by describing it as a crisis of army officers' willingness to act against unionists in Ulster.