Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 2 British reaction: from resistance to acceptance — Edexcel A-Level History
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Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 2 British reaction: from resistance to acceptance explained
Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 2 British reaction: from resistance to acceptance covers 2 specification points, including Reasons for changing approaches to the… and Changing attitudes of British politicians to….
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Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
Evolving government policies c1774–1922: reasons for changing approaches to the government of Ireland (key developments: the Act of Union 1801, increasing the Maynooth Grant 1845, the Irish Coercion Act 1881, Gladstone’s conversion to Home Rule 1885; the Home Rule bill of 1914, the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922).
British policy towards Ireland shifted between coercion and concession. The Act of Union 1801 abolished the Irish parliament and created the United Kingdom, but Catholic emancipation and later grievances kept Irish questions alive. Increasing the Maynooth Grant in 1845 was a conciliatory gesture towards Catholic education, though it angered some Protestants. The Irish Coercion Act 1881 showed the continuing use of force to suppress land agitation. Gladstone's conversion to Home Rule in 1885 marked a major change: a British leader accepted self-government in principle. The Home Rule bill of 1914 passed the Commons but was suspended by war, and the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922 confirmed dominion status for the south. These changes reflect pressure from Irish nationalism, party politics, war and fear of civil conflict.
Changing attitudes of British politicians to agitation and rebellion in Ireland c1774–1922; the significance of Pitt the Younger, Gladstone, Asquith and Lloyd George.
British politicians shifted from coercion to conciliation as Irish agitation and rebellion exposed the Union's fragility. Pitt the Younger combined repression of the 1798 rebellion with the Act of Union (1801), believing Catholic emancipation would follow; George III blocked it. Gladstone moved from disestablishing the Church of Ireland (1869) to Land Acts and Home Rule bills (1886, 1893), splitting his party. Asquith's government faced the Ulster Covenant, Larne gun-running and the Curragh incident, then passed the 1914 Home Rule Act suspended by war. Lloyd George's 1921 Treaty created the Free State. Assess significance by weighing each leader's aims, constraints and consequences.
Your focus
- Describe the key government policies towards Ireland from 1774 to 1922.
- Explain the reasons for changing British approaches, including the Act of Union, the Maynooth Grant and the Coercion Act.
- Analyse the significance of Gladstone's conversion to Home Rule and the Home Rule bill of 1914.
Show all 7 objectives
- Evaluate the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922 as the outcome of evolving British policy.
- Explain how each named politician responded to Irish agitation and rebellion.
- Compare the significance of Pitt, Gladstone, Asquith and Lloyd George using specific measures.
- Reach a supported judgement on how and why British attitudes changed across the period.
Paper 3, Option 36.2: Ireland and the Union, c1774–1923 - 2 British reaction: from resistance to acceptance exam tips
Marking Points
- Explains the Act of Union 1801 as a constitutional change that ended the Irish parliament and joined Ireland to Britain.
- Explains the Maynooth Grant increase in 1845 as a conciliatory policy towards Catholic education and its political consequences.
- Explains the Irish Coercion Act 1881 as a coercive response to land agitation, showing the continuing use of force.
- Explains Gladstone's conversion to Home Rule in 1885 as a turning point in British policy, and the Home Rule bill of 1914 as a measure passed but suspended.
- Explains the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922 as the acceptance of dominion status for the south, completing the shift from resistance to acceptance.
- Pitt the Younger: responded to the 1798 rebellion with coercion and the Act of Union, expecting emancipation to follow; the King's refusal left a grievance that shaped later agitation.
- Gladstone: shifted from Church disestablishment and land reform to Home Rule, arguing moral duty; his bills failed and split the Liberals, showing the limits of parliamentary conciliation.
- Asquith: balanced Home Rule with Ulster unionist resistance, including the Curragh incident and gun-running; the 1914 Act was suspended, so his significance lies in crisis management rather than settlement.
- Lloyd George: negotiated the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty, accepting partition and dominion status; this ended large-scale rebellion but left unresolved questions about the North and the oath.
- Overall judgement: attitudes changed because rebellion, war and electoral pressure made coercion costly; each leader's significance depends on whether they advanced, delayed or reshaped the settlement.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Organise the answer chronologically or by policy type, ensuring each named development is explained.
- 💡Use the named acts and dates precisely, and connect each to the reason for the change in British approach.
- 💡Show change over time: from coercion and union, through concession, to Home Rule and dominion status.
- 💡Anchor each leader to a specific measure or crisis, then explain how it changed British attitudes rather than listing events.
- 💡Compare leaders explicitly: for example, Pitt's coercion-plus-Union against Gladstone's legislative Home Rule and Lloyd George's negotiated treaty.
- 💡Reach a judgement on relative significance, using criteria such as durability, impact on rebellion and effect on party politics.
Common Mistakes
- Treating the Act of Union as simply a merger of parliaments: correct this by explaining that it abolished the Irish parliament and created the United Kingdom.
- Confusing the Maynooth Grant with coercion: correct this by describing it as a conciliatory grant to a Catholic seminary, not a punitive law.
- Assuming the 1914 Home Rule bill became law immediately: correct this by noting it was passed but suspended because of the First World War.
- Treating Pitt as simply anti-Catholic: correct by explaining he favoured emancipation but was blocked by George III, so his significance is the Union plus unrealised conciliation.
- Assuming Gladstone's Home Rule bills passed: correct by noting both failed, and that their significance lies in converting a major party to Home Rule and splitting it.
- Crediting Lloyd George with a united Ireland: correct by explaining the Treaty accepted partition and dominion status, leaving the Boundary Commission and civil war divisions.