The 1798 Rebellion The United Irishmen: Revolution in Ireland

Keywords: Grattons Parliament Protestant Ascendancy Penal Laws Discrimination Radical Defendants Orange Order Yeomanry Half hanging Pitch-cap Loyalist Battle of Ballinahinch Republicanism Act of Union

Important people: William Drennan, Henry Joy Mc Cracken & Thomas Russell James Napper Tandy Lazare Hoche Leonard Mc Nally, Thomas Reynolds Oliver Bond Father John Murphy Bagenal Harvey Henry Munro Father Philip Roche General Cornwallis General Humbert Robert Emmet William Pitt Daniel O Connell & Charles Stewart Parnell

The United Irishmen Inspired by the revolutions in France and America. Founded in Wanted to unite “Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter” to create an Irish Republic free of Britain. Leaders were liberal Protestants: Theobald Wolfe Tone, Henry Joy McCracken, Thomas Russell, Thomas Drennan. They had travelled abroad after been inspired by the French Revolution. The British administration in Dublin Castle regarded them with great suspicion. After war broke out between Britain and France in 1793, the United Irishmen were declared an illegal organisation. They became a secret society, dedicated to creating a Republic by force.

CAUSES OF REVOLUTION IN IRELAND Catholic & Presbyterian discontent: The Penal Laws were used by the Protestant Ascendancy to control Catholic & Presbyterians. Even though some of the laws were abolished Catholics & Presbyterians were still banned from parliament The power of the Protestant Ascendancy: They controlled the land and power in Ireland, even though they were only 15% of the population Poverty in the countryside: The population rose rapidly in the 18 th century so farms were subdivided. This made families worse off. Groups were formed to protest against rents + tithes The Influence of the American & French Revolutions: The victory of the Americans over the British encouraged some people to think that the Irish parliament could get more power. The ideas of the French Revolution were popular in Belfast and this led to the founding of the United Irishmen

WHO WERE THE PROTESTANT ASCENDANCY? WHO WERE THE UNITED IRISHMEN? These were member of the Church of Ireland (Anglican Church) who controlled the land and held power in Ireland WHO WERE THE PRESBYTERIANS? Presbyterian beliefs are mainly similar to Church of Ireland (Protestant, but their systems of church government are different. COI has Bishops and Archbishops whereas Presbyterians have an elected body of presbyters (elders). The United Irishmen was a group founded in Belfast to unite all religions and to reduce English power in Ireland. Later they planned a rebellion in Ireland

What happened during the Rising of 1798? 1. The United Irishmen planned a rising but the British Government knew about the plans through information provided by spies 2. The leaders of the United Irishmen, including Lord Edward Fitzgerald were arrested 3. The Rising went ahead in Dublin, Kildare and Meath where the mail coaches were attacked. But the attacks were easily put down 4. In Wexford, Father John Murphy and Bagenal Harvey defeated Yeomanry (PT soldiers) and militia (FT soldiers) at Oulart Hill. They captured Enniscorthy and Wexford town

Protestants were burned in a barn and 100 were killed in Wexford town 6. The rebel groups were defeated at New Ross and Arklow as they tried to move out of Wexford. They were defeated in a major battle at Vinegar Hill 7. A Rising in Ulster was also defeated and the leaders Henry Joy Mc Cracken and Henry Munro were executed 8. French troops led by General Humbert landed in Killala, Co. Mayo. They defeated the British at the Races of Castlebar. But were beaten at Ballinamuck Co. Longford

9. When Wolfe Tone arrived in Donegal with a French fleet he was captured. He was tried for treason, found guilty and sentenced to death but he committed suicide instead. 10. The Rising of 1798 was defeated because of poor organisation, stronger government forces, spies and insufficient French help Fr. John Murphy, leader of he Rebellion in Wexford Wolfe Tone- Father of Irish Republicianism

What were the results of the 1798 Rising? 1. 30,000 people died 2. There were bitter divisions between Catholics and Protestants 3. The Act of Union was passed in 1800 to abolish the parliament in Dublin and to send members of the Irish parliament and Lords to represent Ireland in the parliament in Westminster 4. Robert Emmet was influenced by the United Irishmen. He attempted a failed rebellion in Dublin in1803. He was arrested & executed. 5. Wolfe Tone was regarded as the Father of Irish Republicanism. His ideas were the never ending source of trouble in Ireland and inspired later rebellions like the 1916 Rising.

The Rising in Ulster The modern Orange Order marching on the 12 th of July. They helped the British forces defeat the United Irishmen Crest of the United Irishmen The United Irishmen were the first secret Irish Republican movement

Atrocities by both sides Unarmed Protestant men, women and children were piked and burned to death by the rebels after Vinegar Hill A Yeomanry officer pitch- capping a United Irish prisoner.