What is homrul in the history of grade 8? The struggle for the independence of Ireland from the British Empire is one of the textbook examples of the national liberation and religious movement. One of his episodes is the homrul. What is this? The term "homerul" can be explained as a struggle for self-government. She was long and difficult for the Irish. More about it will be described below.
What is homrul?
Gomrul is a movement for the autonomous existence of Ireland, which began at the end of the 19th century in Dublin. His supporters demanded the creation of their own parliament, as well as their self-government. The term "homrul" is precisely translated from English as self-government. At the same time, British sovereignty remained over Ireland, that is, its status was in fact identical to dominion.
Movements of this kind have appeared in Ireland before, for example, one of the main ones is the Agitation of Abolition, which required the abolition of the monarchical union by England. Among the founders of the homrul movement was a professor of economics, a successful lawyer, Isaac Butt.
In 1870, he made a famous speech at the Great Dublin Conference on the creation of a parliament in Ireland. In the same year, the Irish Self-Government Association was created, which in 1873 was transformed into the Homerul League. Thus, the homrul is a movement that, in fact, demanded freedom from the dictatorship of England.
Movement development
Since 1873, the Gomrul League was led by its founder Isaac Butt, managing it until his death in 1879. After this, the homerul was led by his friend and ally William Shaw, a former member of the Irish Liberal Party. Initially, only 10 out of 103 deputies of Ireland joined the movement. However, after the general elections of 1874 were held, the number of homerulers increased to 60 people. Only 12 liberals and 31 conservative deputies remained in opposition to them.
Despite its majority, the party of homrules did not have much influence. Each session, a proposal was voiced on her behalf to create a separate, independent parliament in Ireland. This appeal most often provoked a lively debate, but did not produce a particular impression or effect on either the parliament or the majority of the Irish public.
Homerul Political Reforms
The overwhelming majority of Irish residents believed that constitutional methods of struggle in parliament would not succeed in achieving the required reforms. Gomruli understood this and therefore began to try to increase their authority and influence. After Charles Stuart Parnell led the homrules in 1880, trust among them among the Irish increased markedly.
Now the population of Ireland saw in this party real bearers and custodians of national interests, and in 1885, 85 out of 103 homerullers won the parliamentary elections. Broad support and sympathy was also ensured by the fact that C. S. Parnell and his associates linked political reform with the land issue. Parnell demanded a reduction in rents for Irish farmers, which added a large number of supporters of the party of homrules.
First results
Finally, after a long struggle for the interests of the Irish people, the party of homrules in England managed to achieve the first successes. Sharp shifts on the Irish problem manifested themselves in a change in attitude towards it on the part of British Prime Minister William Gladstone, as well as many British liberals.
In 1886, W. Gladstone introduced the bill of homrul to the English parliament, but he did not find support among British parliamentarians. The stumbling block of the Irish homrules and the British conservatives and liberals was the land reform of Ireland, which was proposed by C. S. Parnell.
The British did not want to reduce land rents by farmers, since this directly affected the UK budget. Although they agreed on minor issues that did not fundamentally change the situation in Ireland. In fact, the conservatives did not want any significant changes, dreaming of leaving everything as it is.
Homerul Act of 1893
At the next opening of the parliamentary session in a throne speech, the Homerul bill was called the Irish Management Improvement Act. It was believed that it was compiled to optimize the work of parliament and make life easier for the Irish, as well as to ensure the unity and power of the British Empire.
One of the main aspects of the bill, which was introduced to the House of Commons in February 1893, was the establishment of a legislative assembly to conduct business in Ireland without violation, but under the control and supremacy of the Parliament of England.
The new parliament in Dublin was given the right to create laws for the order, tranquility and good governance of Ireland in relation to matters in any of its parts. These homruli helped to improve the life of the Irish and their acquisition of new freedoms. It was assumed that the new parliament would consist of two chambers - the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.
Chambers of Parliament of Ireland
Both chambers of the Irish parliament were elected institutions. The Legislative Council included 48 people who were elected for an eight-year term. To participate in the elections it was necessary to have an annual income of more than £ 20, received from own or leased property. With this qualification, the number of voters was about 170 thousand people.
The legislative assembly consisted of 103 people who were elected for 5 years according to the same electoral system that was used for election to the British House of Commons. However, the parliament did not have the right to decide issues that concerned the “crown”, regency, and the authority of governors in Ireland itself. And also his powers did not allow making decisions about: conclusion of war and peace, defense, awarding titles and ranks, the monetary system, foreign policy and trade, law on treason.
The highest authority in Ireland
The highest executive in Ireland was completely delegated from the monarch to the Viceroy. To alleviate his party load, the bill was designed to increase the appointment to this position by up to six years. Thus, the Viceroy was given the opportunity of a longer consideration of cases and greater insight into their essence. However, at the same time, the “crown” was still able to make the necessary changes at any time.
Under the Irish Privy Council, it was planned to establish an Executive Committee, which, in essence, was the vice-minister’s cabinet. The latter had to come to terms with him, using his veto. The bill of 1893 differed from the bill of 1886 in that Ireland, with all changes, retained its representation in the general imperial parliament. Opponents of the bill argued that homrul is a threat to the integrity of the empire, so the adoption of this law will end in disaster for Britain.
Bill Disputes
It was stated that the adoption of the bill could be interpreted by Ireland as a weakness of England and would be the first step towards the collapse of the state. The bill of homrules can be a means to an attempt to completely separate from England. At the same time, the UK will never allow this separation, and any actions to implement it will lead to a bloody confrontation.
As well as the introduction in Ireland of self-government, which will unite all those who are dissatisfied with the “crown,” will pose a serious threat to England, especially when the war begins with an external enemy. In this case, Ireland may be under the protectorate of the United States or France.
Another argument was that the adoption of the bill could set a dangerous precedent, which could be followed by similar actions by Scotland and Wales. Some opponents of the law even argued that the Irish, in principle, are not able to independently manage the country because of their sensitivity and hindsight.
Results of the movement of homrules
Despite all the controversy, the House of Commons approved the second bill of homrul from 1883 , but rejected the House of Lords. Years later, Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquitt and his supporters issued the third bill, which they adopted in 1914.
This law provided for the creation of a parliament in Dublin, consisting of two chambers and having the power to consider only internal issues. The main role was still played by the pan-British parliament, and the number of Irish representatives in it was greatly reduced. British King George V approved the bill, but its entry into force was postponed until after the First World War.
The struggle for homrul in the British Parliament influenced evolution in the party of homrul, the majority of whose members began to lean toward a compromise solution with the government. After the 1916 uprising in Ireland, the demands of the homrules changed, now they demanded independence from England and the establishment of a republican system. In 1920, the British authorities passed a law guaranteeing Irish self-government. But in fact, Ireland was divided in two, and its northern part received the status of dominion.
Thus, the answer to the question of what is Homerul in history sounds as follows. In essence, this is a movement of the Irish who fought for their independence from England, which brought bloodshed, looting and genocide to Ireland. In our time, there continues the struggle for separation from Britain, waged by a number of different groups and movements, including radical ones.