Act of Union 1800 Causes

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‘Assess the causes of the Act of Union of 1800, and consider the ways in which the Articles of union themselves were intended to solve the apparent problems in Ireland constitutional, political and religious relationship with England. Your essay must make reference to the relevant document studied in seminar 5.’ In my research into the causes for the Act of Union of 1800, I found that there were many reasons for the British government to be concerned about its relationship with Ireland. At the time, Britain had just had to deal with an American and a French Revolution and their forces were stretched across the world so the last thing they wanted was another rebellion right at their back door. First of all, it can be seen that the English government leader William Pitt thought the union would protect England in her war with France. France would have taken any path they could to get around the British forces and take them by surprise and what better place to go than Ireland where there were numerous unhappy land lords and it was right within striking distance of the weaker west coast of Britain. On the Irish side of this, it could be seen that all the discontent that had been simmering just beneath the surface had reappeared during the French revolution. The French revolution had consisted of the British-influenced French government being overthrown by the emerging middle classes. It was anti-clerical and it espoused Liberty and equality. Many Irish Catholics and Protestants felt that such an uprising was also possible in Ireland as the circumstances were quite similar. The French revolution held particular inspiration for the Irish Catholics who were being oppressed throughout the country because after the French revolution, French Catholics were granted the right to vote, they were allowed to hold military positions and fight for their country, and they were
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