Three Fs facts for kids

The Three Fs were important demands made in Ireland starting in the 1850s. These demands were about making land ownership fairer for farmers. They were called "Free sale, fixity of tenure, and fair rent."

These ideas were first asked for by a group called the Tenant Right League. They wanted to change how land was used and rented in Ireland.

What Were the Three Fs?

The Three Fs were simple but powerful ideas that aimed to protect farmers. They wanted to make sure farmers had more rights and were treated fairly by landlords.

Free Sale

• Free sale meant that a farmer could sell their right to live on and work their land to another farmer. The landlord could not stop this sale or interfere with it. This gave farmers more control over their lives and their land.

Fixity of Tenure

• Fixity of tenure meant that if a farmer paid their rent, they could not be kicked off their land. Before this, landlords could evict farmers easily, even if they paid their rent. This rule gave farmers a sense of security.

Fair Rent

• Fair rent meant that the amount of rent a farmer had to pay would be decided fairly. It would not be decided only by the landlord. Instead, special courts would help set a fair rent. This was a new idea at the time for the United Kingdom.

Why Were the Three Fs Needed?

The Three Fs became very important because of big problems in Ireland. One of the biggest problems was the Great Irish Famine from 1846 to 1849.

The Great Famine and Evictions

During the Famine, many people in Ireland were starving. Farmers often could not pay their rent because their crops failed. Without the Three Fs, landlords could easily kick these starving families off their land. This made the Famine much worse for many people.

Who Fought for the Three Fs?

Many groups and politicians worked hard to get the Three Fs made into law.

Political Movements

• The Independent Irish Party (from 1852 to 1858) was one of the first groups to push for these changes.
• Later, the Irish Parliamentary Party also strongly supported the Three Fs. They fought for them during a time known as the Land War, which started around 1878.

When Did the Three Fs Become Law?

The British Government eventually agreed to the demands of the Three Fs.

Irish Land Acts

• The ideas of the Three Fs were slowly put into law through a series of rules called the Irish Land Acts. These laws started in the 1870s.
• Most of the Three Fs were fully put into action with the Land Law (Ireland) Act 1881. This law made a big difference for farmers in Ireland.