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The Roots of Ireland's Troubles
If the objective of colonisation should be the establishment of economic benefit, in Ireland it was to enforce order. Settlers were required to usurp the traditional lands of its indigenous population. Their attempts to enforce Protestantism in all its forms onto the dogmatically Catholic locality were doomed to failure. With unrest continuing, Ireland became the battleground for the English Civil War fought out between Royalist and Parliamentarian to the detriment of its people.
The availability of cheap Irish labour soon led to calls to protect English agricultural prices. Fears that Irish goods would undercut English production costs led to calls to prevent the development of an Irish industrial revolution, despite the desperate need to employ the surplus rural population. This inevitably led to famine. No one believed the problem which was unfolding despite all the efforts of Nationalist politicians. English land owners in Parliament were only concerned to protect landlord interests and to score points off their political opponents. If home rule could not be delivered by political means, it was inevitable that it would be delivered by force.
Inextricably linked with the history of Britain, Stedall guides the reader through Ireland's turbulent but rich history. To understand the causes behind the twentieth-century conflict, which continues to resonate today, we must look to the long arc of history in order to truly understand the historical roots of a nation's conflict.
The availability of cheap Irish labour soon led to calls to protect English agricultural prices. Fears that Irish goods would undercut English production costs led to calls to prevent the development of an Irish industrial revolution, despite the desperate need to employ the surplus rural population. This inevitably led to famine. No one believed the problem which was unfolding despite all the efforts of Nationalist politicians. English land owners in Parliament were only concerned to protect landlord interests and to score points off their political opponents. If home rule could not be delivered by political means, it was inevitable that it would be delivered by force.
Inextricably linked with the history of Britain, Stedall guides the reader through Ireland's turbulent but rich history. To understand the causes behind the twentieth-century conflict, which continues to resonate today, we must look to the long arc of history in order to truly understand the historical roots of a nation's conflict.
416 pages, Paperback
Published November 13, 2019
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About the author
Robert Stedall
11 books10 followersRobert Stedall is the author of a groundbreaking two volume history of Mary Queen of Scots and her son James VI of Scotland. The first volume The Challenge to the Crown was published in June 2012 and the second volume The Survival of the Crown was published in February 2014.
More information can be found at MaryQueenofScots.net.
He has also carried out a detailed study of the genealogy of the Scottish peerage (1500-1650) and published his family history, Hunting From Hampstead (Book Guild, 2002).
He lives in Petworth, West Sussex.
More information can be found at MaryQueenofScots.net.
He has also carried out a detailed study of the genealogy of the Scottish peerage (1500-1650) and published his family history, Hunting From Hampstead (Book Guild, 2002).
He lives in Petworth, West Sussex.
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