Revolution in Ireland

1798 Rebellion

Ireland in the 1790’s• Ireland ruled by the British but Irish parliament

limited by Poyning’s Law.

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• Parliament controlled by Protestant Ascendency.

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The Rest of Ireland• Poorer Church of Ireland (3 lines)• Presbyterians (3 lines)• Catholics (5 lines)

Grattan’s Parliament and the Volunteers• Many inspired by American Revolution.• Henry Grattan led Patriots in campaign to get

rid of Poyning’s Law. • Volunteers were formed in case France invaded

Ireland and Grattan later used them to demand more power for parliament.

• King George agreed but Protestant Ascendancy would not share power with other groups.

Theobald Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen

• Church of Ireland but not Protestant Ascendancy.

• Studied Law in Trinity College but more interested in politics.

• Liked ideas of French Revolution and wrote ‘An Argument on behalf of the Catholics of Ireland.’ (Against Penal Laws)

• Became secretary of Catholic Commitee.

• In 1791, founded the Society of United Irishmen with Belfast Prebyterians.

The United Irishmen

• Aims: (leave 5 lines)

• Worked peacefully at first but watched closely byBritish and Protestant Ascendancy.

• Feared United Irishmen because they liked Frenchideas and outlawed them, forcing Wolfe Tone to leaveIreland.

• New leaders (Lord Edward Fitzgerald and ThomasRussell) turned UI into secret society and planned arebellion.

Help from French

• Tone asked French for help-sent General Hocheand 15,000 men.

• Ships ran into storms and Hoche never reached Ireland.

• Tone’s ship reached BantryBay but could not land-failed expedition.

Reign of Terror• British and Protestant

Ascendancy wanted to crush UI.• Used spies, burnt houses,

destroyed and tortured people to find weapons ,mainly Ulster and Leinster. (used pitch-capping and flogging)

• Leaders drew up plan for rebellion in May 1798 but plans were discovered through spies.

• Lord Edward Fitzgerald killed resisting arrest.

What were the main causes of 1798 Rebellion?

1798 RebellionRebellion in Leinster• May 23rd: United Irishmen attack British soldiers. • They had poor leaders and poor weapons.• Easily defeated by British and rebels treated with brutality.

Rebellion in Wexford• May 2th: United Irishmen defeated British troops at Oulart

Hill.• Led by Father Murphy, took Enniscorthy and marched to

Vinegar Hill.• Bagenal Harvey in charge but difficult to control troops and

poor arms.• Defeated by the British at New Ross.• Both sides committed terrible atrocities. (ie Scullabogue)• Rebels defeated in final battle at Vinegar Hill.

The Rebellion in Ulster

• United Irishmen weakened by British Terror.

• Heard of massacre of protestants in Wexford-reluctant.

• Small group, led by Henry Joy McCracken, captured Ballymena but soon defeated.

• Another group, led by Henry Munro, defeated at Ballinahinch.

• Leaders executed.

Henry Joy McCracken

Henry Munro

The French in Connaught• More French troops

came, but too late.• 22 Aug, 1,100 men landed

in Killala, Co. Meath-joined by thousands of locals.

• Defeated British at Castlebar, but defeated at Ballinamuck 8 Sept.

• French prisoners were well-treated but Irish were massacred.

Killala

Ballinamuck

Death of Wolfe Tone

• Wolfe Tone’s ship arrived at Lough Swilly, Donegal.

• Captured by British Navy.

• Sentenced to death by hanging but asked for a firing squad.

• The British refused and Tone took his own life.

Wolfe Tone’s GraveBodenstown

The Effects of the 1798 Rebellion

• Rebellion of Robert Emmet 1803

• Number of Deaths

• The Act of Union 1800

• The Influence of Wolfe Tone

• Another kind of Nationalism (ie Daniel O’Connell)

• End of Protestant Nationalism