History Extra podcast Britain’s Catholic emancipation
14 snips
Jun 7, 2018 
Acclaimed historian Antonia Fraser, known for her extensive biographies, dives into the tumultuous path to Catholic emancipation in Britain. She reveals the severe legal restrictions Catholics faced pre-1778 and discusses the infamous Gordon Riots, fueled by anti-Catholic sentiment. Highlighting figures like Daniel O'Connell, Fraser illuminates the nonviolent fight for rights and the pivotal 1829 Catholic Relief Act. With personal insights into her own Catholic journey, she connects historical struggles to today's debates on religious rights.
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Systemic Disabilities Faced By Catholics
- Catholics in Britain faced severe legal and social disabilities before 1778, affecting voting, offices, marriage, education and inheritance.
- These restrictions made Catholic life precarious and fostered deep institutional discrimination.
Lord Gordon And The Gordon Riots
- Lord George Gordon led mass anti-Catholic sentiment that exploded into the bloody Gordon Riots of 1780.
- Fraser highlights Gordon's complex character: liberal on some issues but obsessed with anti-Catholicism.
Fraser’s Personal Religious Journey
- Antonia Fraser recounts her family's religious shifts and her own conversion to Catholicism as a child.
- Her dual religious background influenced her interest in Catholic history and writings on related events.
