# Catholic Emancipation (1829)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1829-catholic-emancipation
Categories: main-event

The Roman Catholic Relief Act allowed Catholics to sit in Parliament and hold most public offices. Within the broader Georgian Britain period, parliamentary government, industrialization, imperial expansion, war with France and political reform turned Britain into a global commercial and military power. This event is placed at 1829 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The measure removed a major civil disability but intensified debates over religion and union.

## Why it matters
The measure removed a major civil disability but intensified debates over religion and union.

Ruler at the time: [George IV](https://english-history.com/rulers/george-iv)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Catholic Emancipation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Catholic+Emancipation&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Catholic Emancipation](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Catholic+Emancipation)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281800%E2%80%931899%29)
- [The National Archives — empire and industry resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)