Modern Ireland

This course surveys the making of modern Ireland from c. 1700. It emphasizes the interplay of social, religious, and political forces that have shaped the island's history. Analytical topics include the origins of the 'Irish' peoples and the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants; Ireland's incorporation within a Protestant British imperial system; the Great Famine; the Irish Diaspora; the War of Independence and Irish Civil War; the creation of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; the restoration of women to Ireland's national stories; the failed social revolution in the Republic and the impact of a reactionary cultural climate; the Troubles and the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement. The course materials include histories, memoirs, works of literature, and film.