Catholic Association - Campaign From 1828

Campaign From 1828

In May 1828, the Test and Corporation Acts were repealed. This gave non-Catholic non-conformists greater political freedom and equality in Britain. The repeal two effects: it gave Catholics hope that a similar act would be passed that would include Catholics, as it was the next logical step in the path of reform; it also alienated Catholics, as they had become the only Christian sect in the United Kingdom not to have political freedom and equality.

In May, Huskisson resigned from the cabinet and William Vesey Fitzgerald was chosen as the President of the Board of Trade. According to law there was to be a by-election in his constituency of County Clare. Daniel O'Connell decided to exploit a loop hole in the Act of Union. It stated that Catholics could not sit in Westminster as a Member of Parliament (MP), but there was nothing about them standing for an election. Therefore O'Connell sat in for the by-election and won. Since he was a Catholic, he could not take his seat in parliament. This meant that his demand rose to allow him to become an MP for County Clare as it did not have representation.

Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington saw that if O'Connell were not allowed to take his seat, then there could be a revolution in Ireland. While using non-violent methods, O'Connell hinted that he would get more Catholics elected to force the situation. In an emotive speech he said "they must crush us or conciliate us".

Peel announced his conversion and tried to push through the new Catholic Relief Bill in February 1829. The bill was passed. It was a momentous victory for O'Connell and the Catholic middle class (less so for the numerous poor), and he became known as 'The Liberator' and the "uncrowned king of Ireland".