Factors that led to the passing of Catholic Emancipation

The Catholic Association

Set up in 1823- had a slow start
Couldnt reach agreed quorum of 10 members
O'Connell came up with the "penny rent"; people paid a penny each month to join the movement (1824)
Association was the organising body for the campagin
Admission of Catholic Priests to the Association created an effective communication channel for the movement
Association used its funds to help educate the poor and compensate tenants who had been evited for defying landlords at election time
Kept the Church on their side by improving buildings
Their strength was recognised by Duke of Wellington when he wrote to Peel (the Home Secretary); "If we cann0ot get rid of the Catholic Association, we must look to civil war in Ireland sooner or later."
British Government attempted to ban it in 1825 but O'Connell used his legal skills to quickly reform it

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Collected the "penny rent" on the first Sunday of each month, spread the message of emancipation from pulpits and encouraged O'Connell to use the 40s freeholders as an electoral weapon by going against the wishes of their landlords
They were the link between O'Connell and Catholic organisation of the campaign and the masses
During elections Priests patrolled with shillelaghs to make sure that the voters turned up and remained sober
Bishop Doyle of Kildore added powerful intellectual influence to the emancipation cause and persuaded a number of conservative bishops to follow his lead and give Episcopal approval to the campaign
Doyle's pamphlet endorsing emancipation sold 8000 copies
Sent O'Connell a list of Priests who were prepared to help

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Paid teh subscription for the penny rent which funded the campaign
They turned out in thousands to rallies; creating the atmosphere and excitement for the campaign. Also impressed upon the Government how much support O'Connell had
The presence of so many people at public meetings added genuine fears about large-scale unrest if emancipation was not granted
40s freeholders played a key role in elections such as Waterford, 1826 and Clare, 1828
Catholic Peasantry became involved in what was the first mass movement of organised democracy in Europe

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Provided charismatic leadership through his forceful and dynamic personality and dominated the movement for emancipation
Thrived on titles such as "Libertor" and "the man of the people"
His speech making inspired the masses
Up and down the country he electrifed audiences with his witty and powerful oratory
William Makepeace Thackeray said of O'Connell; "You have done more for your nation then any other man since Washington ever did."
He established the Catholic Association; essence of the 1st pressure group in Europe
Came up with the idea of "Catholic Rent"or "penny rent"
Mobilised masses through huge rallies
His rhetoric and use of brinkmanship made an already weak government
Leadership skills were evident as a cure for all social-ills thus attracting support from all sections of the Catholic and the sympathy of the Presbyterians

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Lord Liverpool had succeeded in avoiding, ratherthan reconciling his cabinet by adopting an "agree to differ" formula by which the PM sought reduced tensions in the cabinet over the issue of emancipation
Liverpool was succeeded by Canning; but Peel and others refused to serve under Canning because he was pro-emancipation
Canning had a short tenure of 5 months; followed by Goderich who resigned after 4 months because he couldn't cope with the divisions in his cabinet over emancipation
Rapid changes in the holders of the office of PM attested to the uncertainty in the Tory Party.
O'Connell's victory in the Clare by-election forced Wellington and Peel to conclude that granting of emancipation was preferable to risking serious civil disorder
The Bill was passed through the Commons with the support of the Whigs and Liberal Tories. Wellington persuaded the Lords and the King to pass it

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