[Andy007]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this question:

'How important was the Irish famine in explaining the rise of nationalism in Ireland between 1846 and 1865?' (24 marks).

My ideas so far..

Yes, important:
Young Ireland blamed the British govt. for the famine.

Irish tenants leagues emerged at the end of the Great Famine partly in response to evictions by landlords (because of the Poor Law rates).

No, other reasons:
Irish tenants leagues were an expression of the new power of the larger famers based on their now dominant social/economic/political position (given the vote) in rural Ireland.

What do you think? What else could be added?

If not, does anyone know any web-sites which would be help?

Thanks!
Andy

[MrJohnDClare]

This source will give you a whole load more ideas (you need the second essay).

You are correct that your essay structure will involve:
- a first section on how the Famine helped create nationalism
- a second section which details other factors.

But don't forget to add a conclusion which measures their comparative influence, and comes up with a new idea supported by new facts.
It might be worth wodering how far the influence of the Famine in support of nationalism was influenced itself by nationalist ideology which pre-dated it - ie the Famie only helped create nationalism because it Irish response was itself determined by nationalist ideas.
Equally, however, you may wish to wonder how far the forces influencing the growth of Irish nationalism after 1850 were tainted by the anger and hatred implanted in the Irish people by the Famine.
(i.e. your conclusion might wish to explore the idea that the two forces were mutually and inextricably interwoven).

[Andy007]

Thanks, I'll have a read of that essay tomorrow.

I also have one more question. I am also studying Russian history. Unforturnately we have two textbooks, both of which go into WAY too much detao; with masses of writing and therefore hard to understand and pick out the main bits you need to know for the exam. So I was wondering if you could recommend any resources for topics such as the Five Year Plans and the Purges? I have seen some GCSE revision sites for them but I'm anxious they may not be enough for the AS specification!

Cheers
Andy

[MrJohnDClare]

Revision sites such as my own at www.johndclare.net do provide a good factual and conceptual basis, even for AS level.

But as you correctly say, you need more at AS level.
Probably not more facts, but certainly more ideas/ background/ historiographical knowledge.

Your textbooks perhaps do have masses of detail but, as they say, 'the devil is in the detail'.

Use the simple stuff until you are secure in your basic understanding, and then ove onto your textbooks, which may not seem so complicated then.