The 1798 Rebellion

What were the consequences of the Plantations from 1550-1650s? Introduction of English people in Ireland A new class of people – called the Protestant Ascendancy New religion Land now belonged to foreign ‘planters’ Irish dispossessed Common law had replaced the old Irish Brehon Law

Penal Laws Catholics were discriminated against Catholics could not buy land, teach, set up schools, They could not openly practise their religion Not allowed to own land

Who lived in Ireland in 1790s? 1. The Protestant Ascendancy – wealthy landowners Owned most of the land in the country Descendants of the planters during the plantation Protestants – belonged to the Church of Ireland Got all important jobs ...judges, politicians But they were the minority ...of the population

Who else lived here? Presbyterians and Catholics They were the majority of the population But they had no power NO vote No jobs in parliament Paid a tithe to the Church of Ireland Penal laws against Catholics

Background to the Rising – Discontent and anger Ireland was still ruled by British king The British govt controlled Ireland Even though we had a parliament in Dublin...

...Poynings’ Law limited our freedom to make laws for our country ...it was made up of rich Protestant landlords and ...Poynings’ Law limited our freedom to make laws for our country So Ireland was not free

Religious Discrimination Catholics and Presbyterians had no power They even paid a tithe to the Church of Ireland Couldn’t vote or become politicians Were v poor Paid high rents to Protestant landlord This made people angry They wanted a rebellion

Why was there a rebellion? The Protestant Ascendancy had all the power The Catholics suffered terrible discrimination They wanted to get rid of the British power over Ireland Inspired by the American and French revolutions which overthrow the power of kings Inspired by the ideals of revolutions - equality for all; democracy

The United Irishmen Set up by Wolfe Tone in 1791 Appalled by the bad treatment of Catholics Tone was a Protestant who wanted all Irish people to be united... no matter what religion they were

Aims of the UI founders – Wolfe Tone and Henry Joy McCracken aims = 1. To united Catholics and Protestants 2. To achieve irish freedom from Britain 3. To end British power by peaceful means... ...if possible Support spread quickly for the UI throughout Ireland

British Response Banned the UI because they supported the French Rev UI became a secret, revolutionary movement They now wanted an irish republic They would now use violence to get it Began to plan a rebellion

French Help Tone went to France Persuaded them to send military help Dec 1796 French ships with 14,000 soldiers... ...set sail for Bantry Bay in Cork General Hoche was leader Couldn’t land – bad weather Had to abandon the plan

British Response Br govt furious at Irish Determined to hunt down any rebels Used terror tactics Went through countryside searching for weapons Tortured and killed people Half hanging and pitch capping also used spies to find out UI leaders Arrest UI leaders Famous leader arrested was Lord Edward Fitzgerald

1798 Rebellion Even though its leaders were arrested.. Groups of UI decided to go ahead with a rebellion But no central leadership No organisation No clear plan The rebels also had had no weapons - Why? Because of British army searches Used pikes – would be no match for guns

The Rebellion Starts Starts in Leinster – Kildare and Meath Easily defeated But the British brutality inspires a sudden rebellion in Wexford! This is the most successful and famous rebellion

Wexford Rebellion Fr John Murphy inspires people to rebel Group of peasants beat the English army in Enniscorthy Set up camp at vinegar hill Captured Wexford Bagnal Harvey becomes ...leader of rebellion He was a protestant landlord!

British Response Br army strikes back Beat the rebels at New Ross Br kill the rebels without trial

Massacre of Protestants The Rebels then make a huge mistake In response, other rebels massacre 100 innocent, unarmed Protestants at Wexford Bridge Remem the UI were supposed to unite the diff religions Now protestants were afraid of the Catholic rebels Didn’t want to help them anymore Br forces finally beat Wexford rebels at vinegar hill in June 1798 Fr Murphy and Harvey killed

Rebellion in Ulster In response to the Wexford Rebellion,... small uprisings break out in UIster Henry Joy McCracken led one Easily defeated Many protestants had refused to join after hearing of the Massacre

French help - again Tone had been in France Persuaded Fr gov to send help again 1000 men under Gen Humbert Land at Killala, Mayo in Aug 1798 Too small – rising was already over But some success – Races of Castlebar How did it gets its name? Marched towards Dublin But defeated at Ballinamuck

Tone captured Another French expedition with Tone onboard arrived at Lough Swilly, Donegal Captured by Br Tone recognised and arrested Sentenced to death Commits suicide

Why did the Rebellion fail? 1. Br govt forces were larger, better trained and better armed 2. pikes were no match for Br guns 3. spies in UI betrayed the rebels 4. French assistance – too little, too late We were relying too much on it

Act of Union, 1800 After the rebellion the Br govt was determined to control Ireland Act of Union abolished the irish parliament Ireland was now directly ruled by Br govt Ironically, the aim of the UI was? To increase irish freedom In the end, their actions actually reduced it

The Influence of Wolfe Tone Wolfe Tone had introduced the idea of republicanism For the next 200 yrs irish groups would carry out violent rebellions... and attacks on British People would be inspired by Tone to keep fighting for a republic

Results of the Rebellion 1. Huge death – 40,000 people 2. Act of Union – increased Br control of Ireland 3. The influence of Wolfe Tone and UI