The Passing of Catholic Emancipation 1829

For

• Act of Union 1801 joined Ireland and Britain to form the United Kingdom
• Ireland had a population that was 90% Catholic, this posed an issue as Ireland came under Britain's anti-Catholic legislation i.e Catholics were not allowed to sit in the House of Commons
• George IV reluctantly accepted Catholic Emancipation in 1829
• There were more in Liverpool's cabinet who supported Catholic Emancipation after 1821 e.g Canning

Against

• The British public were conservative and held prejudicial and anti-Catholic views e.g. Gordon Riots 1780
• Catholic Emancipation was opposed by George III
• Failure of Pitt's attempt to pass Catholic Emancipation in 1801 led to his resignation and that the issure remained unresolved
• Liverpool's government put Catholic Emancipation on the 'back burner' for fear of causing a significant split in his Tory Party
• Catholic Emancipation happened after Liverpool's resignation when divisions within the Tory Party were increasing

For

• Formation of the Catholic Association saw an increase in the campaign for Catholic Emancipation
• Catholic Emancipation was led by Daniel O'Connell who stood in the County Clare by-election. He won the by-election, but he was unable to take up his seat because he was Catholic
• Led to a constitutional crisis as the rules and laws governing Britain no longer functioned

Against

• Some concessions had been made to Catholics in the UK, for example:
  • Relief Act 1778
  • A second Relief Act 1882
  • The Catholic Relief Act 1791 (gave those Catholics who me the property qualification the right to vote)

For

• The Tory government, although opposed to Catholic Emancipation feared that there would be a civil war, revolution, civil unrest or a rival parliament set up in Ireland
• O'Connell had set a precedent and other Catholics could also potentially stand in elections and win but be barred from taking up their seats
• George IV was against Catholic Emancipation but like the government he also feared that there would be a possibility of Revolution or Civil War so accepted Emancipation
• There were some in the Tory Party who had sympathies with Catholics e.g. Canningites;along with Whigs
• Peel guided emancipation through the Commons and Wellington bullied the Lords to ensure it passed

Against

• Despite fear of a civil war, Paliament made O'Connell seek re-election before he could take up his seat in Parliament
• The government also increased the property qualification for voting in Irish Counties from £2 to £10 to reduce the influence of Catholic voters electing Catholic MPs