Background and causes
Irish Parliament controlled by Protestant Ascendancy (C of I only 15% and most of the land)
Penal laws left Catholics poor and uneducated.
Tithes still had to be paid.
The influence of the American and French revolutions
The Society of United Irishmen
Wolfe Tone (Dublin, Anglican Trinity barrister admired French Rev)
1791 Tone and Belfast Presbyterians formed the UI
Aim: Catholic and Protestant together would end British interference in Ireland
1793 War with France. British Gov afraid of Ireland. The UI was banned. Now a rebellion and a republic was the only way.
Tone escaped to... (More)