Account for Gladstone’s conversion to home rule in the period 1868 to 1886.

... Account for Gladstone's conversion to home rule in the period 1868 to 1886 By Laurence Sharifi In 1845, Gladstone wrote a letter to his wife describing Ireland as "that cloud in the west - that coming storm." Ireland was to become the dominant feature of Gladstone's time in office. However, his attitude to the "Irish problem" changed over time. Initially, the liberal, god fearing politician felt that the most appropriate means by which Ireland could be pacified without the British loosing face was to embark on a series of measures to make the idea of self rule less attractive to the Irish. He did this by introducing land reforms, altering the church in Ireland, adopting a lenient approach to the Fenian movement, and attempting to establish a catholic University. However, by 1886 Gladstone had embarked on a spectacular u-turn, directing his party toward a goal of Irish home rule. This policy change

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