OCR Specification focus:
‘Redmond and Asquith advanced Home Rule within a Liberal programme, 1908–1914.’
Between 1908 and 1914, constitutional nationalism reached a critical phase as John Redmond, H. H. Asquith, and the Liberal government worked together to advance Irish Home Rule, facing determined Unionist opposition and dramatic constitutional change.
Background: Constitutional Nationalism and the Irish Parliamentary Party
By the early twentieth century, Irish nationalism was divided between constitutional nationalists and radical republicans. Constitutional nationalists, led by John Redmond and the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP), sought Home Rule — limited self-government within the United Kingdom. They pursued this through parliamentary means, in contrast to revolutionary groups like the Fenians.
Home Rule: A system granting Ireland its own parliament and control over domestic affairs while remaining part of the United Kingdom.
The Liberal Party, sympathetic to Irish demands, relied on Redmond’s support in Parliament. Their cooperation became crucial after 1906, when Liberal governments aimed to modernise the constitution and society, providing a window of opportunity for Irish reform.
John Redmond and the Irish Parliamentary Party
Leadership and Strategy
John Redmond became leader of the IPP in 1900, succeeding John Dillon. His political style was conciliatory, and he believed in parliamentary constitutionalism as the path to Irish autonomy. Redmond unified the party, which had been weakened by divisions since Charles Stewart Parnell’s fall in the 1890s, and reasserted its influence at Westminster.
Key aspects of Redmond’s leadership included:
Parliamentary discipline: The IPP maintained strict unity, voting as a bloc to maximise influence.
Alliance building: Redmond forged a crucial relationship with the Liberal Party, recognising that Irish self-government depended on British parliamentary support.
Moderation: He aimed to reassure British politicians that Home Rule was not a step toward independence but a means of stabilising the United Kingdom.
Redmond’s strategy reflected the broader trend of constitutional nationalism, distinguishing the IPP from radical nationalists and gaining credibility with British political leaders.
The Liberal Government and the Road to Reform
Asquith and Liberal Policy
H. H. Asquith, Prime Minister from 1908, led a Liberal government committed to constitutional reform and social legislation. Irish Home Rule aligned with this reformist agenda, but Asquith initially prioritised domestic issues such as welfare reforms and limiting the powers of the House of Lords.
The political landscape shifted dramatically after two general elections in 1910. The Liberals lost their overall majority and depended on IPP support to govern. This new balance of power made Redmond’s demands for Home Rule unavoidable.
Key Liberal policies that shaped the path to Home Rule:
Parliament Act 1911: This landmark legislation curtailed the Lords’ ability to veto bills, limiting them to a two-year delaying power.
Title page of the Parliament Act 1911, the law that reduced the House of Lords’ veto to a delaying power. This constitutional reform was pivotal for advancing Irish Home Rule through the Commons. The image shows the Act as enacted; no additional commentary is included. Source
Constitutional reform: The Liberals’ commitment to democratic governance created conditions conducive to granting Ireland greater autonomy.
The Third Home Rule Bill (1912)
Introduction and Aims
The Third Home Rule Bill, introduced by Asquith’s government in April 1912, was the culmination of Redmond’s and the Liberals’ collaboration. It proposed:
A bicameral Irish parliament in Dublin to legislate on domestic affairs such as education, agriculture, and local government.
Continued Irish representation at Westminster for imperial matters.
Retention of British control over defence, foreign policy, and trade.
This carefully balanced approach sought to grant Ireland autonomy without breaking the Union.
Parliamentary Progress
The bill passed the House of Commons three times (1912, 1913, and 1914) but was rejected each time by the House of Lords, dominated by Unionists. However, under the Parliament Act 1911, the Lords’ veto could only delay, not block, legislation. As a result, the bill was set to become law in 1914.
This marked a dramatic shift from previous failed Home Rule attempts. Redmond’s influence was at its height, and constitutional nationalism appeared close to achieving its central goal.
Unionist Opposition and the Ulster Question
Rise of Ulster Unionism
The Home Rule Bill triggered fierce resistance from Unionists, particularly in Ulster, who feared domination by a Catholic-majority Dublin parliament. Sir Edward Carson and James Craig led the mobilisation of Ulster Unionism, arguing that Home Rule threatened Protestant liberties and economic interests.
Unionism: A political movement committed to maintaining Ireland’s political union with Great Britain.
Unionist opposition manifested in several ways:
The Solemn League and Covenant (1912): Signed by nearly half a million men and women pledging to resist Home Rule.
Formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (1913): A paramilitary organisation prepared to use force to prevent Home Rule’s implementation.
Advocacy in Parliament: Unionist MPs and the Conservative Party, under Bonar Law, strongly opposed the bill.
Negotiations and Exclusion Crisis
Asquith attempted to resolve the crisis by considering Ulster’s exclusion from the Home Rule settlement, but agreement proved elusive. Redmond initially resisted any partition, believing it would undermine national unity, though he later hinted at temporary exclusion as a compromise.
The crisis deepened with events like the Curragh Mutiny (1914), when British officers signalled they would not enforce Home Rule in Ulster, revealing military unreliability and emboldening Unionists.
Suspension and War
The Home Rule Bill finally received royal assent in September 1914, becoming the Government of Ireland Act.
Title page of the Government of Ireland Act 1914, commonly called the Home Rule Act. It established a bicameral Irish Parliament in Dublin but was suspended at the outbreak of the First World War. The scan is of the official act; it contains legal formatting beyond what the syllabus requires. Source
However, the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 transformed the political situation. Implementation was suspended for the war’s duration, and Redmond pledged Irish support for the British war effort, believing this would strengthen Ireland’s claim to self-government after the conflict.
Redmond’s stance was controversial. Many Irish nationalists supported his decision, but radical elements, including the Irish Volunteers, split from his leadership, laying the groundwork for future revolutionary nationalism.
FAQ
The two general elections of 1910 left the Liberals without an overall majority, forcing them to rely on the Irish Parliamentary Party’s support to stay in power.
This parliamentary arithmetic gave John Redmond significant leverage, as the government needed his backing for key legislation. It allowed him to insist that Home Rule be placed firmly on the political agenda.
It also meant that Asquith’s Liberal government could not ignore Irish demands without risking defeat, shifting the political landscape in favour of constitutional nationalism.
While all three sought Irish self-government, the 1912 Bill differed in key ways:
It reflected the new political reality created by the Parliament Act 1911, ensuring the House of Lords could not block it indefinitely.
It provided for a bicameral Irish parliament with limited powers, striking a balance between autonomy and imperial control.
It maintained Irish MPs at Westminster, ensuring Ireland’s continued role in imperial governance.
These changes aimed to address concerns that had helped defeat earlier bills and increase the bill’s chances of success.
Ulster was Ireland’s most industrialised and economically prosperous region, with strong trade links to Britain. Unionists feared that a Dublin parliament dominated by Catholic nationalists would undermine Protestant interests and economic stability.
Religious identity played a major role: Protestants in Ulster associated the Union with their political and cultural security.
Leaders like Edward Carson and James Craig successfully mobilised these fears into a mass political movement, making Ulster the heart of resistance to Home Rule.
Redmond believed supporting Britain would prove Ireland’s loyalty and secure Home Rule after the war. He urged Irishmen to enlist, linking military service to national advancement.
However, his stance alienated more radical nationalists, who saw the war as Britain’s imperial conflict.
This division weakened the Irish Parliamentary Party’s dominance and allowed revolutionary groups, such as the Irish Volunteers and later Sinn Féin, to gain momentum, particularly after the Easter Rising of 1916.
Some Irish nationalists argued that the bill offered too little autonomy, leaving key powers like defence and foreign policy in British hands.
Others criticised the continued representation of Irish MPs at Westminster, fearing it would limit Ireland’s legislative independence.
Radical republicans dismissed Home Rule as insufficient, believing only complete independence could address Ireland’s national aspirations. These criticisms highlighted growing divisions within nationalism and foreshadowed the shift towards more militant approaches after 1916.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
What was the significance of the Parliament Act 1911 for the progress of Irish Home Rule?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for identifying that the Parliament Act 1911 reduced the House of Lords’ veto power, limiting it to a delaying power.
1 mark for explaining that this enabled the Third Home Rule Bill to pass despite repeated rejection by the Lords.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain how John Redmond and the Liberal government worked together to advance Home Rule between 1908 and 1914.
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for identifying Redmond’s leadership of the Irish Parliamentary Party and his use of parliamentary constitutionalism.
1 mark for describing Redmond’s alliance with the Liberal Party, recognising that their support was vital to achieving Home Rule.
1 mark for noting that after the 1910 general elections, the Liberals depended on IPP support, increasing Redmond’s influence.
1 mark for mentioning the Parliament Act 1911, which weakened the House of Lords and removed a major obstacle to Home Rule.
1 mark for explaining the introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill (1912) and its passage through the Commons.
1 mark for noting that the bill became the Government of Ireland Act (1914) but was suspended due to the outbreak of the First World War.
