and discouraged by it. The formation of Cymru Fydd was directly influenced by the Irish
movement, in terms of both ideals and because Irish Home Rule interrupted the prospects of
disestablishment being passed in parliament. 16 However, this would not affect its eventual
failure to resonate with the working-class ideals, and ultimate collapse in 1895. 17 Overall, the
political climate in both Scotland and Wales, while in some regards helped to initiate and
agitate home rule movements, also worked against their fruition with concessions.
In relation to the political situation that was experienced by the nations in the United
Kingdom is the economic involvement they had in the Union and the Empire at large. The
greater the integration of a country’s economy in the union and/or the benefits a nation
would receive in being a part of the empire. When observing how Ireland fared under the
Union, it becomes clear that they benefitted little, or were worse off. This at least applies to
the Catholic majority, who as previously mentioned were subjected to prejudiced legislation.
The Penal Laws were instrumental in instituting the social, political, and economic
supremacy of members of the established Church in Ireland, known as the Protestant
Ascendancy. The restrictions placed surrounding property resulted in an approximate 75 per
cent Catholic population owning only 5 per cent by 1776. 18 These laws impoverished the
Catholic population and further weakened the political capital they could accrue through
voting. These laws contributed immensely to the greatest injustice that the Irish were
subjected to, the Great Famine of the 1840s, which can be seen as a direct result of British
economic policy. The small plots of tenanted land that was available to each family resulted
in the potato to be the only viable crop that could be grown in large enough quantities to
16 John Davies, A History of Wales , (London: Penguin, 2007), p. 451 17 Martin Johnes, Wales: England’s Colony , (Cardigan: Parthian, 2019), pp. 124-125 18 R. F. Foster, Modern Ireland 1600-1972, (London: Penguin, 1988), p. 211
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