RECAP

• 1641 massacre of Protestant settlers by the Gaelic Irish

• Oliver Cromwell takes revenge on the towns of Drogheda and Wexford. The inhabitants of both towns – men, woman and children slaughtered without mercy.

• Protestants undermine the Irish so future rebellions impossible.

Recap Cont….Recap Cont….

• Cromwell’s infamous remark: “to Hell or Connacht”• Catholics involved in the rebellion had their lands

confiscated (one million hectares) and were forced to emigrate or live in the poor lands of Connacht.

Land Ownership by Catholics:• 1641 – 60%• 1688 - 20%• 1714 – 7%• 1800 – 5%

Penal LawsPenal Laws

Catholics could not:• Practise their religion (priests were exiled and executed if

they returned)• Vote or stand for parliament• Join the army or navy• Become lawyers or judges• Hold any public office• Hold a lease on land for more than 31 years

The Conquered The Conquered

• Gaelic Irish• Landless and poor• Spoke Gaelic• Catholic• Opposed to the English Crown• Few Legal rights• About 80% of the population

The ConquerorsThe Conquerors

• English/Scottish• Wealthy Landowners• Spoke English• Protestant• Loyal to the English Crown• Enjoyed full legal rights• About 20% of the population

The Final blow: The Battle of the BoyneThe Final blow: The Battle of the Boyne

• 1685 Catholic James II becomes King of England• James II flees to France in 1688• William of Orange – the Dutch Protestant King who was

married to James daughter takes the throne.• 1690 – James tries to retake his Throne by seizing

Ireland. He was soundly defeated by William of Orange• A protestant ascendency was established in Ireland. Irish

had their lands confiscated and were reduced to being tenant farmers under protestant landlords.

• The English conquest of Ireland was complete.

The United IrishmenThe United Irishmen

• By the late 1700’s a growing number of Irish (Catholic and Protestant) wanted to break with Britain.

1790’s – The Society of United Irishmen was formed:• An independent republic and an end to interference by

the British Crown in Irish affairs• Ireland to be able to trade with other countries. (Britain

was Irelands only market – no competition = low prices for Irish exports, high prices for British imports)

• Founder Wolf Tone was a Protestant

The United Irishmen cont…The United Irishmen cont…

• In 1798, with French help, the united Irishmen rebelled against British rule

• Rebellion was a disaster and was brutally crushed

• Before he was to be executed, Wolfe Tone attempted suicide and subsequently died from his wounds eight days after the attempt, thus avoiding being hanged as a convicted traitor to the Irish Crown for his involvement in

the Rebellion.• 1800 Act of the Union. Irish protestant parliament

abolished. Ireland run directly by Britain.

Three PerspectivesThree Perspectives

1. English Protestant perspective:• Wealthier secure farmers, landlord, tradesmen and businessmen• Set up Irish stereotypes that served to justify English behaviour in

Ireland• Irish = drunk ‘Paddys’ who lived in bogs and ate potatoes.

2. Anglo Irish perspective• Wealthier than most Catholics but little control over English policy• To Irish to be English but not Irish enough to feel safe

3. Irish Catholic perspective• Poor Catholic tenant farmers, excluded from power.• nursed their grudges against the English but lacked power and

organisation to bring about change in the short term