04) presbyterians

PRESBYTERIANS

PRESBYTERIANS

• 1798 in Antrim & Down

PRESBYTERIANS

• 1798 in Antrim & Down

• Mainly Presbyterian tenant farmers

PRESBYTERIANS

• 1798 in Antrim & Down

• Mainly Presbyterian tenant farmers

• 20 ministers involved - 4 executed

CATHOLIC/PRESBYTERIANREBELLION

CATHOLIC/PRESBYTERIANREBELLION• Exceptional alliance, never repeated

CATHOLIC/PRESBYTERIANREBELLION• Exceptional alliance, never repeated

• However - most Presbyterians loyal, Catholic church against rebellion

WHO WERE THE PRESBYTERIANS?• Mostly of Scottish descent• Not usually part of plantation• Economic migrants – severe

economic circumstances in later 17th century – famines in 1690s – said that 30,000 arrived in 1692

• In 18th century maybe 500,000

WHO WERE THE PRESBYTERIANS?• Mostly small farmers – no

landowners• linen –merchants,

manufacturers • also many workers - spinners

and weavers

WHO WERE THE PRESBYTERIANS?• Linen trade - Dublin, Newry• Later 18thC Belfast• 1750 - 8,000• 1790 - 18,000 (Dublin 180,000)• Elite strongly Presbyterian

WHO WERE THE PRESBYTERIANS?• Culturally - strong links with

Scotland• Clergy educated in Glasgow• Relatively democratic church

structures

WHO WERE THE PRESBYTERIANS?• Legal disabilities• Barred from town

corporations, civic offices• Confronting authority in rural

areas- Hearts of Steel 1770s

INFLUENCE OF FRENCH REVOLUTION• Possibility of radical political change

• Possibility of Catholics being reformers

INFLUENCE OF FRENCH REVOLUTION• Belfast Volunteers Bastille Day

parade July 1791

INFLUENCE OF FRENCH REVOLUTION• Belfast Volunteers Bastille Day

parade July 1791

• From Dublin - Wolfe Tone, secretary of Catholic committee (Protestant)

INFLUENCE OF FRENCH REVOLUTION• Belfast Volunteers Bastille Day

parade July 1791

• From Dublin - Wolfe Tone , secretary of Catholic committee (Protestant)

• Argument on Behalf of the Catholics of Ireland (September 1791)

INFLUENCE OF FRENCH REVOLUTION• Belfast Volunteers Bastille Day

parade July 1791• From Dublin - Wolfe Tone , secretary

of Catholic committee (Protestant)• Argument on Behalf of the

Catholics of Ireland (September 1791)

• 6,000 sold - major effect

SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN

SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN• Belfast October 1791

SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN• Belfast October 1792

• Founding Committee of 11 – all Presbyterian – two wool merchants, owner of linen mill, three tanners, shipbroker, watchmaker, apothecary, and a merchant

SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN• Belfast October 1791• Founding Committee of 11 – all

Presbyterian – two wool merchants, owner of linen mill, three tanners, shipbroker, watchmaker, apothecary, and a merchant

• 2 sons of ministers

SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN• Dublin November 1791

• Soon had 400 members

SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN• Dublin November 1791

• Soon had 400 members• 100 merchants, 30 attornies,

26 barristers

William Drennan May 1791

I should much desire that a society were instituted in this city (Dublin) having much of the secrecy and somewhat of the ceremonial of freemasonry…

The Rights of Man and the Greatest Happiness of the Greatest Number its end – its general end Real Independence to Ireland and Republicanism its particular purpose…

To cement the scattered and shifting sand of republicanism into a body and when thus cemented to sink it like a caisson in the dark and troubled waters, a stable unseen power

BELFAST AND DUBLIN UNITED IRISHMEN

BELFAST AND DUBLIN UNITED IRISHMEN• Dublin more public - dinners,

resolutions, publicity

BELFAST AND DUBLIN UNITED IRISHMEN• Dublin more public - dinners,

resolutions, publicity

• Belfast more secret (freemasons) - but published Northern Star newspaper

BELFAST AND DUBLIN UNITED IRISHMEN• Dublin more public - dinners,

resolutions, publicity

• Belfast more secret (freemasons) - but published Northern Star newspaper

• Common programme - universal manhood suffrage; annual elections; payment of MPs

WAR WITH FRANCE 1793

WAR WITH FRANCE 1793

Pro-French organisations suspect

WAR WITH FRANCE 1793

Pro-French organisations suspect

- Meetings outlawed, prosecutions for distributing subversive literature

WAR WITH FRANCE 1793

Pro-French organisations suspect

- Meetings outlawed, prosecutions for distributing subversive literature

Moderate United Irishmen left

Organisation suppressed May 1794

1795 - UNITED IRISHMEN A SECRET REVOLUTIONARY ORGANISATION

Dilemna - how to proceed?

1795 - UNITED IRISHMEN A SECRET REVOLUTIONARY ORGANISATION

Dilemna - how to proceed?

• Recruitment without visibility

1795 - UNITED IRISHMEN A SECRET REVOLUTIONARY ORGANISATION

Dilemna - how to proceed?

• Recruitment without visibility

• Screening of recruits

4 Strategies

4 Strategies

• Ally with Defenders

4 Strategies

• Ally with Defenders

• Ally with France

4 Strategies

• Ally with Defenders

• Ally with France

• Infiltrate crown forces

4 Strategies

• Ally with Defenders

• Ally with France

• Infiltrate crown forces

• Propaganda campaign