2. CONTESTING HISTORY OPPOSING VOICES 8: Republicanism and Sectarianism in the 1798 Rebellion

3. Republicanism and Sectarianism in 1798 1789: French Revolution 1791: United Irishmen formed 1795: Orange Order founded 1795: Fitzwilliam Episode – end of hopes of further Catholic reform 1795: Ulster Radicals considering French overtures for armed military support to aid an Irish revolution Northern Star Newspaper - link in Ulster between United Irishmen and Defenders – violent conflicts with army – opposition from new Orange lodges 1796: failed French landing 1796: failed French landing 1796: Insurrection Act 1796: Insurrection Act

4. Republicanism and Sectarianism in 1798 1797: Attention of government turns to Ulster radicals / United Irishmen 1797: flight of Ulster leaders 1798: Arrests of Dublin leaders 1798: March – martial law declared 1798: May: Lord Edward Fitzgerald arrested - messages sent out for rising 1798: May-June: rising in Leinster – bloody and violent Rising in Ulster delayed by a few weeks – disorganized 1798: August: French forces of 4,000 in Connaught – defeated at Ballinamuck Further French force harried along coast - six ships captured, one with Wolfe Tone on it in French uniform

5. Republicanism and Sectarianism in 1798 Numbers: Numbers: 30-50,000 involved in rebellion in the summer of 1798 20,000 deaths General causes: General causes: Economic: rising population, land shortage, growing poverty – agrarian discontent Economic: rising population, land shortage, growing poverty – agrarian discontent Political: disaffected local elites, disgruntled Catholics at failure to pursue reform to its full extent Political: disaffected local elites, disgruntled Catholics at failure to pursue reform to its full extent Social: radical education – French ideas – sense of Irishness Social: radical education – French ideas – sense of Irishness

6. Republicanism and Sectarianism in 1798 Further Reading: Bartlett, T., Dawson, K. & Keogh, D. (eds), Rebellion (1998). Bartlett, T., Dickson, D., Keogh, D. & Whelan, K. (eds), 1798: A Bicentennial Perspective (2003). Elliott, Marianne, Partners in Revolution: The United Irishmen and France (1982). Elliott, Marianne, Partners in Revolution: The United Irishmen and France (1982). McDowell, R. B., Ireland in the Age of Imperialism and Revolution, 1760-1801 (1979). McDowell, R. B., Ireland in the Age of Imperialism and Revolution, 1760-1801 (1979).