Irish Opinion and the American Revolution, 1760–1783

This study examines the impact of the American Revolution on Ireland.

Vincent Morley (Author)

9780521813860, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 July 2002

378 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.72 kg

'This is an excellent book … which will become a major reference point for future work on Ireland in the last half of the eighteenth century.' Irish Studies Review

This study traces the impact of the American Revolution and of the international war it precipitated on the political outlook of each section of Irish society. Morley uses a dazzling array of sources - newspapers, pamphlets, sermons and political songs, including Irish-language documents unknown to other scholars and previously unpublished - to trace the evolving attitudes of the Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian communities from the beginning of colonial unrest in the early 1760s until the end of hostilities in 1783. He also reassesses the influence of the American revolutionary war on such developments as Catholic relief, the removal of restrictions on Irish trade, and Britain's recognition of Irish legislative independence. Morley sheds light on the nature of Anglo-Irish patriotism and Catholic political consciousness, and reveals the extent to which the polarities of the 1790s had already emerged by the end of the American war.

Preface
Textual note
List of abbreviations
Introduction
1. Imperial unrest, 1760–75
2. Colonial rebellion, 1775–8
3. International war, 1778–81
4. Britain defeated, 1781–3
Postscript
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural history [HBTB], Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], History of the Americas [HBJK], British & Irish history [HBJD1]