The Land War

The Land Question

1870: Ordinary Irish more interested in Land Question than Home Rule
1852 1877: Evictions were rare, tenants could pay rent, it was a prosperous time
Disestablishment Act, Gladstones first Land Act , Secret Ballot Act all reduced Landlords Power
Crisis of 1877 - 1880
Fall in prices of Irish Exports
Irish Farmers competing with cheaper imports
Invention of refrigeration
Very bad weather 1877 1879
Connacht: Fear of starvation
Land question an issue
Leadership and organisation came from Michael Davitt

The New departure
Devoy and Davitt- new approach needed to bring the Land Question to the force
New Departure- Move from traditional Fenian tactics to supporting land reform to get peasants on board
Brought idea to Parnell- appeared to agree with it
New Departure meant co-operation:
1) Fenian supporters of rebellion
2) Constitutional nationalists in Home Rule Party
3) Supporters of land reform
Marraige by convenience
What Did Land Reform Mean
Landlords should be forced to sell the land to tenants who would borrow the cost from British
government
Reduction in rents
end to eviction
The Land league
Origins in Co. Mayo- meeting in Irishtown to protest against rent increase. Caught Davitts attention
Parnell- power- Davitt- Fenians- Land- Tenants- Home Rule: All interconnected!
8 June1879- Meeting of tenant farmers in Westport with Davitt and Parnell
Very important meeting in which Parnell gave a very rousing speech.
Summer 1879- very bad Summer, threat of famine etc.
August- Land League of Mayo established by Davitt
October- National Land League, Parnell as its leader, although the Fenians were really in control
Aims:
1) Reduce rent, end evictions
2) Achieve the three Fs
3) Abolish the landlord system completely
Early Days
It was decided that a mixture of local agitation & parliamentary pressure would work best
Parnell went to the United States to raise funds- approx. 70,000 for famine relief and the Land League
This mission was a political triumph and he became the face of Irish Nationalism



The Land War

Long tradition of agrarian violence and rural secret societies in Ireland
Violent actions by tenant farmers began to escalate after the Land League formed
Reasons for escalation of violence - Better education, more newspapers, memories of the Famine
1877 236 Random Acts of Violence
1881 4,439 Random Acts of Violence
Boycotting
An effective tactic proposed by Parnell in Ennis, Co. Clare in September 1880
First victim- A Mayo land agent named Captain Boycott.
Deserted by his workers and refused service in local shops
Labourers from Ulster were sent to his aid. However, this cost too much and he was forced from Ireland
How did the British Gov. React?
1880- Liberal Party and Gladstone return to power
Parnell is made leader of Home Rule Party
Ireland once again becomes a priority
Coercion V Conciliation
Important to restore law and order in Ireland
To deal with agrarian violence, Chief Secretary introduced stern measures to deal with Land League
Rules of House of Commons changed to prevent obstruction
Conciliation
Gladstone ready to bring in his eagerly anticipated Second Land Act.
April 1881- Second Land Bill
1. Ulster Custom (three Fs) for all the country
2. A land court established to decide on fair rent
3. A scheme to allow tenants to buy their land
Reactions
Most MPS, Catholic clergy, better off farmers and shopkeepers supported the Act.
Opposed by smaller farmer who were in arrears, more extreme Home Rule MPs and Fenians

Dilemma for Parnell:
1. Alienate smaller farmers?
2. Lose financial backing of Irish exiles abroad?
3. Alienate people with moderate views?
Not to mention his problems as Home Rule leader!
Home Rule MPs- some were landlords, some were supporters of the tenants
Tenant farmers in Ireland who supported Home Rule, but were more interested in land reform
Fenians in the background- wanted to stir up revolution using the Land League. Complete separation
from Britain was their aim