The eclipse of the middle ground and the ascendancy of conservativism politically Irish politics underwent a profound change in the 1790s: History Essay, UCC, Ireland

The eclipse of the middle ground and the ascendancy of conservativism politically Irish politics underwent a profound change in the 1790s, as the dominance by the parliament of political debate was first challenged and then undermined by its inability to accommodate demands for change from Catholics and the Protestant middle classes, and the increasingly strong demand of both to be admitted to membership of the political process.

The usual explanation for the change in tone and mood of Irish political life in the 1790s is the impact of events in revolutionary France. The example of France certainly served to spur on those who wanted reforms, but the divisions that created fundamental cleavages politically in the 1790s were already visible in the 1780s.

They can be seen developing in response to 1) The parliamentary reform movement of 1783-5. This gave coherent expression to calls for reform that had been taking shape since at least the early 1770s. 2) The Rightboy disturbances of 1785-88. This invigorated conservative Protestantism 3) The Regency crisis of 1788-9. As well as illustrating the dangers of an Irish parliament that had ‘legislative independence’ for Anglo-Irish relations, it envigorated the opposition and led to the formation of the Irish Whig Club. The outbreak of the Revolution excited deeply contrasting responses. Reformers were encouraged to contemplate the prospect of reform: conservatives were horrified by the threat posed to the social order they enjoyed, profited from, and esteemed.

The reformers were a broad ad hoc alliance of Whig and Patriot M.P.s and middle-class activists; the latter included many United Irishmen who were on the radical wing of the advocates of change. Their goals were 1) Parliamentary reform 2) Catholic relief, 3) the reduction in the influence of the British government and the Irish executive over parliament. The object in the early 1790s was to recreate the conditions, which had won legislative independence in 1782 to gain their objectives, but they were unable to seize the political initiative. In the vital 1793 session, the reformer’s achievements were modest.

However, conservatives established a Militia instead of the Volunteers, banned conventions, and rejected the reform. They also retained the political initiative. Grattan and his reformist allies, received an unexpected chance to put their ideas into effect in 1794-5 when the Whig, Earl Fitzwilliam, was made Lord Lieutenant. He was well inclined towards reform including Catholic emancipation but pressed ahead in advance of Pitt, who was anxious to avoid experiments and recalled.

Thereafter the voice of reform had no impact in the House of Commons. The administration of the country was in the hand of conservatives like John Foster, John Fitzgibbon, Earl of Clare, John Beresford, and an equally conservative lord lieutenant – Camden. Despairing of them and of ministers who seemed content to pursue only a law and order strategy, Grattan’s withdrawal from the commons in 1797 effectively signaled the eclipse of the middle way.