The Growth of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the 19th Century: Industrial, Political, Religious and Social Factors
Number of pages:
10
ABSTRACT:
This is a 10 page paper discussing Belfast in the 19th century. Belfast, in Northern Ireland, was very much unique in its industrial growth during the 19th century. In fact, from an industrial and prosperous standpoint, Belfast was more aligned with the economical features of the English cities of Manchester and Liverpool during the industrial revolution, than it was with the non-industrialized Irish cities such as Dublin. While Belfast had been increasing in prosperity in the cotton trade, it had to compete with the coal-rich industries located in England. However, in the early 1800s, merchants in Belfast switched to the linen industry which increased dramatically in demand during the American Civil War and the demise of the cotton crops. At this time, the shipbuilding industry in Belfast also increased to the point of becoming the largest shipyards in the world. While Belfast recovered from the famine which devastated most of Ireland more quickly, it nevertheless became the central region of the growing animosity between the Catholic and Protestant populations. When the Act of Union in 1801 ended Irish independent parliamentary control, the Catholics fought for equal governmental representation and the repeal of the Union while the Protestants supported British rule. Belfast because of its size and industrialization was important to England and was economically tied to it but the divisions which grew within the city districts led to Belfast becoming the home of the most violent conflicts between the two factions.
Bibliography lists 6 sources.
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