OCR Specification focus:
‘Parnell and Redmond advanced Home Rule as constitutional nationalism’s principal objective.’
From the 1870s to the First World War, constitutional nationalism in Ireland was reshaped by Charles Stewart Parnell and John Redmond, whose leadership made Home Rule—Irish self-government within the United Kingdom—the central aim of nationalist politics.
The Emergence of Home Rule as a Political Goal
In the aftermath of the failed revolutionary and agrarian movements of the mid-19th century, Irish nationalism increasingly turned towards constitutional methods. The Home Government Association, founded by Isaac Butt in 1870, first articulated the idea of Home Rule, seeking an Irish parliament to manage domestic affairs while remaining loyal to the Crown. This represented a shift from revolutionary separatism towards constitutional nationalism, defined as:
Constitutional Nationalism: A political approach seeking national self-government or autonomy through lawful and parliamentary means, rather than through violence or insurrection.
Butt’s moderate strategy failed to make significant headway, but it laid the foundation for a more vigorous movement under new leadership.
Charles Stewart Parnell and the Transformation of Irish Nationalism
Rise of Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary Party
Charles Stewart Parnell (1846–1891) emerged as the dominant figure in Irish politics in the late 1870s.
Charles Stewart Parnell, photographed in the late nineteenth century. Parnell reshaped Irish politics through strict party discipline and Westminster obstructionism, propelling Home Rule to the centre of British politics. This portrait helps students connect policies and tactics to the leader who advanced them. Source
Elected MP for Meath in 1875, he quickly displaced Butt as leader of the Home Rule League, transforming it into the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) in 1882. Parnell introduced two critical innovations:
Party discipline: MPs pledged to vote together, increasing the party’s influence in Westminster.
Obstructionism: Parnell used parliamentary procedure to delay British legislation, forcing attention on Irish issues.
These tactics made the IPP a powerful force, capable of holding the balance of power in a hung parliament. Parnell’s leadership elevated Home Rule from a peripheral idea to a central issue in British politics.
Alliance with the Land League and Agrarian Agitation
Parnell also forged links with the Irish National Land League, founded in 1879 by Michael Davitt, which sought fair rents, fixity of tenure, and free sale for tenant farmers. The Land League’s campaign of “boycotting” and resistance to eviction intensified pressure on the British government.
This dual focus on land reform and Home Rule broadened the nationalist appeal and strengthened Parnell’s position. His ability to unite constitutional and agrarian demands gave the nationalist movement unprecedented political momentum.
Home Rule Bills and the Crisis of Unionism
The First Home Rule Bill (1886)
Parnell’s influence peaked when William Ewart Gladstone, the Liberal Prime Minister, adopted Home Rule as government policy. The First Home Rule Bill (1886) proposed:
An Irish parliament with limited powers over domestic affairs.
Retention of imperial matters (foreign policy, defence) by Westminster.
However, the bill split the Liberal Party and was decisively defeated in the House of Commons. Its failure galvanised Unionist opposition, particularly in Ulster, where many Protestants feared domination by a Catholic-majority parliament.
The Second Home Rule Bill (1893)
Despite Parnell’s death in 1891 following a leadership scandal, the movement continued under John Redmond and others. Gladstone introduced a Second Home Rule Bill in 1893, which passed the Commons but was rejected by the House of Lords. This highlighted the constitutional limits on Irish self-government and delayed Home Rule further.
The Fall of Parnell and Its Consequences
Parnell’s career ended abruptly after a divorce scandal involving Katharine O’Shea in 1890 split the IPP into Parnellite and anti-Parnellite factions. The divisions weakened the movement and delayed further progress. Yet Parnell’s achievements were enduring:
He had made Home Rule the principal objective of Irish constitutional nationalism.
He had demonstrated how Irish MPs could leverage parliamentary politics to advance national goals.
He established a mass political machine, funded by Irish-American support and sustained by disciplined party organisation.
John Redmond and the Revival of Home Rule
Reunification and Leadership
John Redmond (1856–1918) succeeded Parnell as the leading constitutional nationalist.
John Redmond, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, circa 1909. Redmond’s parliamentary leverage over the Liberal government helped secure the Third Home Rule Bill (1912) and navigate the reduced House of Lords veto. The portrait’s clarity supports recognition of a key constitutional nationalist. Source
A skilled parliamentarian and orator, Redmond worked to reunify the fractured nationalist movement. By 1900, he had successfully brought most factions back together under the Irish Parliamentary Party, restoring it as a cohesive political force.
The Third Home Rule Bill (1912)
The Parliament Act of 1911 reduced the House of Lords’ veto power, transforming the political landscape. With the Liberals dependent on IPP support after the 1910 elections, Redmond secured a commitment to introduce a Third Home Rule Bill. Key features included:
An Irish parliament with authority over domestic legislation.
Continued Irish representation at Westminster for imperial matters.
The bill passed the Commons in 1912 but faced fierce Unionist resistance, especially from Sir Edward Carson and Ulster Unionists, who threatened armed resistance through the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). In response, nationalists formed the Irish Volunteers in 1913 to ensure Home Rule was implemented.
The Curragh Mutiny and the Suspension of Home Rule
The crisis deepened in 1914 when the Curragh Mutiny revealed divisions in the British Army over enforcing Home Rule in Ulster. Though the bill was enacted in September 1914, its implementation was suspended for the duration of the First World War. Redmond, believing loyalty would be rewarded, supported the British war effort and encouraged Irish enlistment.
Legacy and Significance of the Home Rule Movement
The Home Rule movement fundamentally reshaped Irish nationalism:
It institutionalised the principle that Ireland could achieve substantial autonomy through constitutional and parliamentary means rather than rebellion.
It entrenched Home Rule as the primary political demand of Irish nationalism for nearly half a century.
It provoked the formation of a powerful and enduring Unionist movement, especially in Ulster, reshaping British and Irish politics alike.
However, delays, Unionist resistance, and the outbreak of war eroded nationalist patience. The Easter Rising of 1916 and subsequent events shifted momentum towards republican separatism, but the groundwork laid by Parnell and Redmond ensured that constitutional nationalism remained a central force in Irish political life.
FAQ
The Kilmainham Treaty (1882) was an informal agreement between Charles Stewart Parnell and Prime Minister Gladstone. Parnell, imprisoned for his involvement in the Land League, promised to use his influence to reduce agrarian violence if the government would ease coercive measures and improve tenants’ conditions.
This deal enhanced Parnell’s reputation as a statesman capable of negotiating directly with the British government. It also showed how constitutional nationalists could combine pressure from mass movements with parliamentary negotiation, strengthening the credibility of the Home Rule cause.
Unionist resistance, particularly in Ulster, played a crucial role in defining the Home Rule debate. Many Protestants feared that a Dublin parliament would undermine their economic interests and religious freedoms.
Unionists formed organisations such as the Ulster Defence Union (1893) and later the Ulster Unionist Council (1905) to coordinate opposition. Their mobilisation—including signing the Solemn League and Covenant (1912) and forming the Ulster Volunteer Force (1913)—forced constitutional nationalists to reconsider strategies and highlighted the challenge of implementing Home Rule across a divided Ireland.
Irish-American communities, particularly through organisations like the Irish National Land League of America, provided crucial financial and political backing for Home Rule.
They funded the Irish Parliamentary Party’s election campaigns and organisational work.
Their influence in US politics encouraged American leaders to express sympathy for Irish self-government.
The transatlantic network helped sustain nationalist momentum when domestic divisions, such as those following Parnell’s fall, threatened progress.
This international dimension strengthened the movement’s resources and legitimacy, demonstrating the global reach of Irish nationalism.
The press played a significant role in shaping public attitudes. Parnell and his supporters used nationalist newspapers such as United Ireland to promote Home Rule and criticise British policy.
Conversely, Unionist papers like the Belfast Newsletter portrayed Home Rule as a threat to British unity and Protestant liberties. The British press was divided: Liberal papers often supported Gladstone’s policy, while Conservative papers fiercely opposed it.
This media landscape influenced parliamentary debate and public opinion, turning Home Rule into a major political issue in Britain as well as Ireland.
Redmond believed that Irish participation in the First World War would demonstrate loyalty to the Crown and strengthen the case for implementing Home Rule after the conflict. He urged Irishmen to enlist, hoping their sacrifice would be rewarded with legislative autonomy.
However, this decision divided Irish nationalists. Some saw it as betrayal, and radical groups like the Irish Republican Brotherhood capitalised on disillusionment, leading to the Easter Rising (1916). Redmond’s stance ultimately weakened constitutional nationalism, as attention shifted towards republican separatism after the war.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
Who were the two leading figures of constitutional nationalism in Ireland associated with the Home Rule movement between the 1870s and 1914?
Mark Scheme:
Award 1 mark for each correct name identified:
Charles Stewart Parnell – 1 mark
John Redmond – 1 mark
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain how Charles Stewart Parnell and John Redmond advanced the Home Rule movement in Ireland between the 1870s and 1914.
Mark Scheme:
Level 1 (1–2 marks):
Basic description of Parnell and/or Redmond with limited explanation.
May refer vaguely to Home Rule without detailing methods or achievements.
Level 2 (3–4 marks):
Some explanation of how Parnell and Redmond advanced Home Rule.
Examples may include Parnell’s leadership of the Irish Parliamentary Party, his use of obstructionism, and alliance with the Land League.
Reference to Redmond’s reunification of the nationalist movement and support for the Third Home Rule Bill.
Level 3 (5–6 marks):
Clear, developed explanation of the strategies and impact of both leaders.
Must include Parnell’s transformation of the IPP into a disciplined party, his influence on Gladstone’s 1886 Home Rule Bill, and his alliance with the Land League.
Must also include Redmond’s leadership in reuniting the party, his pivotal role in securing the 1912 Home Rule Bill, and his support for Britain in the First World War in hopes of implementing Home Rule.
Answers show understanding of continuity and change in constitutional nationalism across the period.
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