CCS Junior Certificate History: Irish 1798 Rebellion

Ireland in the Age of Revolutions

What were the causes of revolution in Ireland

Catholic and Presbyterian discontent: The Penal Laws were used by Protestant Ascendency to control the Catholics and Presbyterians. Even though some of the laws were repealed (abolished), Catholics and Presbyterians were still banned from parliament. They also paid one-tenth of their crops to support the Anglican Clergy.

What were the causes of revolution in Ireland

Poverty in the countryside: The population rose rapidly in the 18th century, so farms were subdivided. This made families worse off. Groups like the Whiteboys were formed to protest against rents and tithes.

What were the causes of revolution in Ireland

The influence of the American and 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 they led to the founding of the United Irishmen.

What were the causes of revolution in Ireland

The Power of the Protestant Ascendancy: The Protestant Ascendency controlled the land and power in Ireland, even though they were only 15% of the population.

What was the Protestant Ascendancy?

These were members of the Church of Ireland (Anglican Church) who controlled the land and held power 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 (part-time soldiers) and militia (full-time soldiers) at Oulart Hill; they captured Enniscorthy and Wexford town.

Fr John Murphy

What happened during the Rising of 1798

5. 200 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. When they were defeated in a major battle at Vinegar Hill.

7. A Rising in Ulster was also defeated and the leaders, Henry Joy McCracken and Henry Munro wee executed.

8. French troops led by General Humbert landed in Killala, Co Mayo. They defeated the British a the Races of Castlebar. But they were beaten in Ballinamuck, CO Longford.

What happened during the Rising of 1798

9. When 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.

Wolfe Tone

Wolfe Tone Death Mask

General Humbert

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 in 1803. He was arrested and executed.

What were the results of the 1798 Rising?

5. Wolfe Tone was regarded as the Father of Irish Republicanism. His ideas that Britain was the never-ending source of trouble in Ireland and that Protestants and Catholics should be united influenced later leaders. His example inspired later rebellions, such as the Rising of 1867 and the 1916 Rising.