1798 Rebellion 
Consequences of 1798 Rebellion
Wolfe Tone
Causes of the 1798 Rebellion
British Crackdown 1797-98
1798 rebellion
Political Traditions in Modern Ireland
1. Nationalism - aimed for independence from Britain
2. Unionism - maintain union with Britain (after 1800)
(1) Parliamentary Tradition - peaceful persuasion, passive resistance
(2) Physical Force Tradition - armed uprising/rebellion
(1) + (2) - usually Catholic
Mainly Protestant
Concentrated in North-East Ulster
3. Position of Presbyterians - referred to as dissenters, not allowed vote or sit in parliament
4. Poverty in the Countryside - most people tenants or landless labourers, very badly off
2. Position of Catholics - penal laws banned Catholic priests, schools & MPs, paid tithes to Church of Ireland, subdivision of land between son legally enforced
5. Influence of American and French Revolution - ideas of liberty and equality spread to Ireland, Britain feared rebellion would occur due to this, United Irishmen founded in 1791
1. Power of the Protestant Ascendancy - Anglican minority (15%) owned 80% of the land, controlled parliament
Originally wanted religious equality for all, removal of British influence in Ireland and male enfranchisement
Disappointed when British repealed some penal laws but Catholics still not allowed to vote or run as an MP
Wrote 'An Argument on Behalf of the Catholics of Ireland'
UI banned in 1793, began planning a rebellion
Founding member of UI
Tone went to France asking for soldiers to help - set 43 ships and 15,000 men - however, turned around at Bantry Bay 1796
Protestant loyalists set up Yeomanry and the Orange Order
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Torture included half-hanging, pitch-capping and tarring
Backfired on British as UI membership grew to 300,000
General Lake burned houses, flogged, tortured and confiscated weapons from anyone linked to UI
British spies tried to infiltrate UI and figure out their plans
London and Dublin parliaments decided to crackdown on UI
Lord Edward Fitzgerald, leader of Dublin Rising, betrayed and assassinated a week before rising - massive blow
Must significant battles in Wexford - led by Father John Murphy and Bagenal Henry
Victories at Oulart Hill, Enniscorthy and Wexford Town
Henry Joy McCracken in Antrim and Henry Munro in Down had initial victories but were eventually defeated at Ballynahinch
Massacre at Scullabogue - 200 Protestants burned alive in a barn, further 100 killed in Wexford town
Rebellion easily put down in Meath, Kildare and Carlow
Defeated at New Ross and Arklow, eventually finished off at Battle of Vinegar Hill
Spies informed British where rebels planned to meet in Dublin and they were arrested
French troops land at Killala Bay, Co. Mayo - defeated at Ballinamuck, Co. Longford
Main battle zones = Meath, Kildare, Antrim, Down and Wexford
Tone tried to land French troops in Donegal but captured by British navy - sentenced to death but committed suicide instead
1. Death and Destruction - 30,000 killed, towns like New Ross destroyed
2. Act of Union 1801 - Dublin parliament closed, direct rule from London
3. Catholic and Protestant Mistrust - Catholics saw terror inflicted on them by Protestants, Protestants thought Catholics would try to destroy them
4. Republic and Physical Force - many Irish people would go on to fight for the republic espoused by the UI - further rebellions in 1803, 1848 & 1867