June 1850
Irish Tenant League

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Irish tenant farmers have few rights. During the famine, thousands are evicted when they cannot pay their rent. Many landowners sell their land, or consolidate it into larger tenancies that they rent out to livestock farmers. Charles Gavan Duffy founds the Irish Tenant League and campaigns for the same rights as English tenants. The newly formed Catholic Defence Association allies with it. There is strong popular support for the repeal of the union with Britain, but Ireland is economically shattered and the movement takes time to find its political voice. See 1870 Land Act.

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