1. Ireland – 1798 Rebellion

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 3rd Cause – the Enlightenment
Like the French, influenced by enlightenment ideas
Voltaire, Rousseau
All men are equal
People should have power

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. 3rd French Expedition Arrives at Donegal
Tone aboard ship called Hooche
Captured by English
Requested hanging – refused
Committed suicide in his cell

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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!

28. 2nd Result – Huge Destruction and death
40,000 people died
Most innocent civilians

29. 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

30. 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

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