Ireland – 1798 Rebellion

Ireland in 1798 Ireland belonged to Britain Ruled by King Since Plantations, Catholics poor had no land Protestant Ascendancy had all the land and power Had an Irish Parliament but no real power Only Protestants allowed in

Causes of the 1798 Rebellion Religious Discrimination Protestant Ascendancy had all power and land Catholics – Penal Laws up to 1770 Catholics not allowed vote or be in parliament Paid Tithe to Anglican Church

2nd Cause - Poverty Catholics and Presbyterians were poor Landless labourers or tenant farmers Resented the wealth of Protestant Ascendancy Wanted a rebellion against British King and Ascendancy rule

3rd Cause – the Enlightenment Like the French, influenced by enlightenment ideas Voltaire, Rousseau All men are equal People should have power

4th Cause – French Rev Inspired by French Revolution – overthrowing a King Ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity Wanted to copy the French Revolution Also, French Government promised military help… …to any people fighting against a king

Problem Protestant Ascendancy – tiny minority of population Other Irish Protestants had no power and were poor But the Catholics and normal Protestants didn’t get on

Wolfe Tone Famous Irish Revolutionary Leader Was a wealthy Protestant Hated the way Catholics were treated Wrote pamphlet ‘An Argument on behalf of the Catholics’ Called on Irish Catholics and Protestants to unite

United Irishmen Set up in Belfast 1791 By Wolfe Tone and Henry Joy McCracken Aims: To unite Catholics and Protestants To peacefully reduce English power in Ireland The society spreads – becomes unpopular

Banned! 1793 England at war with France The U.I supported France English banned it

Goes underground U.I becomes a secret, revolutionary society Now ready to use violence to get an Irish Republic Began to plan an armed rebellion

French Help Tone in France – persuade French to help Dec 1796 French ships under General Hoche Tried to land at Bantry Bay, Cork Storms prevented them from landing

Government Terror English government shocked Decided to crush the U.I Used terror tactics – Led by General Lake Killed and tortured people to give information about U.I or hidden weapons Used half hanging and pitch capping

Government Terror (2) Used spies to get information about U.I Tone’s brother-in-law Arrested leaders of U.I Edward Fitzgerald arrested and shot

Rebellion Ruined All plans for a proper rebellion ruined No leaders No weapons No French help But U.I rebel in May 1798 in Leinster Used rebel pikes Easily defeated

Wexford Rebellion But English Government cruelty to the captured rebel And hatred of the Cork militia (Irish farmers working for English Government) Inspired a sudden rebellion in Wexford Inspired by Fr. John Murphy Ordinary farmers formed a rebel army

Rebel Victories Rebels beat the Cork militia at Oulart Hill Then captured Enniscorthy Set up camp at Vinegar Hill Then captured Wexford off English Rebels led by Protestant landlord – Bagnal Harvey

Defeat Rebels captured New Ross Controlled nearly all Wexford county But English reinforcements recaptured town Shot the rebels there without trial

Rebel Revenge Rebels shocked – wanted revenge Burned 100 Protestants – Scullaboane Barn Massacred another 100 at Wexford Bridge Disaster – this would ruin all rebellions Protestants would never trust Catholics again

Rebels Beaten English Army get reinforcements Beat rebels at Vinegar Hill in June 1798 Fr. Murphy and Harvey executed

Ulster Rebellion U.I support had been strongest But only a small rebellion happened Why? Government captured most rebel’s weapons Protestants refused to fight now – heard about massacre of Protestants Small uprising – Led by McCracken Easily defeated

French Arrive Tone persuaded another French expedition 1000 men under Humbert Arrived at Kilalla, Co. Mayo in Aug 1798 Force too small to beat English But local people joined

French Arrive Small victories Races at Castlebar But English army win at Ballinamuck

3rd French Expedition Arrives at Donegal Tone aboard ship called Hooche Captured by English Requested hanging – refused Committed suicide in his cell

1798 Many individuals rebellions in the year Leinster, Wexford, Ulster, French help in West No organization Wexford rebellion – most successful Why did rebellion fail? English Army – bigger, better weapons, better trained – rebel pikes no match for cannons. Spies for English French help – too little, too late

Why did rebellion fail? English Army – bigger, better weapons, better trained – rebel pikes no match for cannons. Spies for English French help – too little, too late

Results of the Rising Act of Union (1800) Aim of rebellion had been to lessen English power Ironically, the opposite happened England decided to totally control Ireland Irish Parliament abolished in Act of Union Ireland ruled directly from Westminster Rebellion actually increased English control!

2nd Result – Huge Destruction and death 40,000 people died Most innocent civilians

3rd Result UI had been formed to unite Protestants and Catholics Ironically, now more divided than before Protestants didn’t trust Catholics Because of Wexford Massacres Protestants now want to stay part of England Feel safer under Protestant rule

4th Result – Rise of Republicanism Tone and U.I introduced idea of republicanism Republic – country ruled by it’s own people Violent rebellions and republicanism continued

Synopsis of results Act of Union 1800 Huge death and destruction Divides Protestants and Catholics worse Idea of violent republicanism becomes popular