19th century Britain was a time of social and political upheaval. England dominated Ireland and imposed Protestantism as a major means of control. The Prime Minister of England who served from 1868 to 1874, 1880 to 1886, and 1892 to 1894, a man named Gladstone, argued in favor of Ireland’s autonomy. A contemporary of Gladstone, Charles Stewart Parnell, also a Member of Parliament, started and led the Home Rule League. Working independently of Gladstone for the self-government of Ireland, the Home Rule League frustrated most Parliamentary movements. The members of this organization constantly vetoed every bill and law in the voting queue, making the autonomy of Ireland the most important issue for Parliament, as the remaining Members of Parliament could do almost nothing until Gladstone addressed the problem. Because he believed in the cause, Gladstone argued for Ireland’s independence in a series of debates in 1886. He claimed that taxing the Irish simply because they were Catholic was morally unjust. He believed that they should be able to hold political offices despite their religion. Besides, England would save a great deal of money because the Irish would govern themselves. In addition, the Irish economy would drastically improve because the Irish knew Ireland best—they were masters of their own markets. Unfortunately, Parliament voted down any bills in favor of Irish autonomy and the Irish Home Rule movement fizzled out. Gladstone tried his best, and tensions still simmer beneath the surface between Ireland and England to the present day.