Abstract
This thesis investigates the impact that the popular pamphlet the Rights of Man, by ThomasPaine had on public opinion in Ireland, Scotland and Wales during the 1790s. Paine’s work was
controversial, compelling, widely disseminated and was determined to bring French
Revolutionary ideals to as many people as possible as to enact radical social and political
change. However, the details surrounding the relationship between Paine’s work and the Celtic
nations do not provide a thorough and nuanced understanding of the subject. Through a focus
on contemporary print culture, in particular contemporary newspapers, pamphlets, poems,
songs, and toasts a clearer perspective of the 1790s most popular political work will be garnered
from areas of the British Isles often overlooked within the traditional British historiographical
model. This work addresses the relationship between contemporary political discourse and the
Celtic languages as well as using qualitative data to determine how popular and widespread the
Rights of Man was in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, whilst also discerning popular opinion on
the subject. Additionally, the work also investigates the use of traditional forms of violent
community based corporal punishments and the burning of effigies to discern the relationship
between traditional culture and contemporary political discourse. In doing so this study
contributes much to our understanding of the impact of radical political discourse on Ireland,
Scotland, and Wales during the French Revolutionary period and in doing so uses a novel
comparative model to glean a more nuanced insight into the politics of Ireland, Scotland, and
Wales.
| Date of Award | 1 Oct 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Mark Williams (Supervisor) & Martyn J Powell (Supervisor) |