Irish Rebellion (1798)

Q: What were the Penal Laws in 18th-century Ireland?

Laws designed to suppress Catholics and non-Anglican Protestants by restricting property ownership, education, and religious freedom.

Q: What was the significance of Poynings' Law?

It prevented the Irish Parliament from passing laws without English approval, limiting Irish legislative independence.

Q: Who was Wolfe Tone, and why is he significant?

Wolfe Tone was the founder of the Society of United Irishmen, which aimed to unite Catholics and Protestants for Irish independence.

Q: What was the Society of United Irishmen?

A revolutionary organization founded in 1791 aiming for Irish independence through unity and rebellion.

Q: Who was Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and what was his role in the rebellion?

A key leader of the United Irishmen who organized plans for the 1798 rebellion.

Q: What role did Father John Murphy play in the rebellion?

He led the Wexford rebels during the 1798 uprising.

Q: How did the French Revolution influence the Irish Rebellion of 1798?

It inspired ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity, motivating the United Irishmen to fight for independence.

Q: List three main causes of the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

1. Religious discrimination under the Penal Laws.

2. Economic hardship among the poor.

3. Inspiration from the American and French Revolutions.

Q: What happened at Bantry Bay in 1796?

A French fleet attempted to land troops to support the Irish but failed due to bad weather.

Q: Where did the main uprisings of the rebellion take place?

Wexford, Ulster, and parts of Leinster.

Q: What happened during the Wexford rebellion?

Rebels gained control of parts of the county but were eventually defeated at Vinegar Hill.

Q: What methods did the British use to suppress the rebellion?

Brutal tactics like pitch capping, mass executions, and burning villages.

Q: What was pitch capping?

A method of torture where hot tar was poured on a victim's head and torn off.

Q: Why did the Irish Rebellion of 1798 fail?

Poor planning, lack of coordination, British military strength, and insufficient French support.

Q: What was the impact of the French fleet's arrival at Lough Swilly?

The French arrived too late to make a significant difference and were defeated.

Q: What were the results of the rebellion?

Increased sectarian violence, harsher British control, and the eventual passage of the Act of Union in 1801.Context and Background