Gladstone's First Ministry: Irish Reforms

Grievances of the Irish in 1868

• Religious                                                                                                                          Almost 90% of the Irish populatio were Roman Catholic but the Protestant Anglican Church of England was the established church in Ireland. This meant that Catholics had to pay tithes (tax ammounting to 10% of annual income) to the Protestant church, even if they never attended their services. Also, had to support their own priests and churches it added to the financial burden. 
• Economic                                                                                                                         There was extreme poverty in Ireland. Irish agriculture was old fashioned and inefficient. Most of the land was owned by Anglo-Irish landowners, many of whom lived in England, relying on agents to run their properties in Ireland (absentee landlords). Most Irish farmers were therefore, tenant farmers,…