04) presbyterians
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
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