The Act of Union went into effect January 1, 1801, uniting the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. By 1840, the Repeal Association was founded by Daniel O'Connell, an Irish statesman, to campaign for the repeal of the Act of Union. The movement was characterized by large meetings of peaceful participants, referred to as "monster meetings." However, by 1848 the momentum of the Repeal Association fizzled due to differences within the larger repeal movement and the death of Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847).
This collection consists of one series of political cartoons and one election flyer which illustrate opposing attitudes to the Act of Union. Three anti- union cartoons published in Dublin flatteringly portray Daniel O'Connell in his struggle against English rule as personified by Arthur Wellesley, (Duke of Wellington, British Prime Minster, 1828-1830, 1834), and Sir Robert Peel, (Prime Minister, 1834-1835, 1841-1846). Accompanying O'Connell in two cartoons is a figure that may represent Thomas Osborne Davis, the Irish writer, organizer of the Young Ireland movement, and founder of the pro-repeal newspaper, The Nation. In contrast, a fourth cartoon, by English caricaturist George Cruikshank, represents O'Connell as an ax-wielding bully attempting to sever the hands of England and Ireland united in friendship. The final item, a damaged election flier entitled, "Under the British Flag," depicts Liberal (Whig) policies favorably in comparison to those of the Tories (Conservatives).
The Irish Repeal Campaign Cartoons Collection consists of one series:
No Restrictions.
Irish Home Rule Political Cartoons
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Donated in 1919 by Arthur. J. Connolly to The Catholic University of America. Transferred from Rare Books and Special Collections to the American Catholic History Research History Center in 2003.
Initial inventory completed in 2003 by Patrick Cullom. Finding aid and EAD markup completed by Katherine Santa Ana in 2016.
Political Cartoon
Political Cartoon
Political Cartoon
Campaign Flyer