Palmer #20, Question 4

Palmer #20, Question 4

Will Stewart

“What were the consequences of the restoration for Scotland? For Ireland?”

Thesis: Though the Restoration served to create a more unified Britain, it resulted in great repression of the Irish.

1. Restoration background

a. With invitation from prominent Englishman, William III invaded England and became king along with his wife Mary.

b. Parliament passed Bill of Rights restricting power of king and rights of Catholics

c. William wanted to check French power, had to nullify threat posed by Ireland and Scotland as potential bases of French Catholic activity.

2. Scotland

a. Possible restoration point for James II

b. England and Scotland had to be joined for overall safety of new government

c. Scots didn’t want to join, but England tempted them with economic advantages

i. Scots got rights in English East India Company, English colonies, English system of mercantilism, and Navigation Acts

d. 1707- United Kingdom of Great Britain created

3. Ireland

a. Predominantly Catholic, but majority of land and power held by Anglicans

b. Remained relatively backwards- towns small, agriculturally based economy, very scarce development of middle class

c. New penal code enforced in Ireland

i. Catholic clergy banished, Catholics couldn’t vote or sit in Parliament, Catholics couldn’t teach or be educated in overseas Catholic schools, Catholic’s couldn’t receive education, Catholics couldn’t purchase land, lease it for more than 31 years, inherit it from a Protestant, or own a horse worth more than 5 pounds.

ii. Essentially only power left to the Irish was the export of agricultural produce.

d. Effects of penal code:

i. Weakened Ireland as potential threat to England

ii. Favored English manufacturers by removing competition

iii. Reinforced position of Anglicans in Ireland