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The influence
of the Protestant ascendancy in Ireland reached
its peak in the 18th century, politically due
to the loss of voting and office-holding privileges
of the Catholic majority. By 1778 the continued
persecution of native Catholics resulted in their
ownership of a meager 5% of Irish land. All was
not negative during for Ireland during the 18th
century because there were dramatic improvements
to Ireland's infrastructure including the construction
of road and canal networks to help facilitate
a growing agricultural economy.
In the latter
part of 18th century Ireland, rural protest movements
were a common reaction to laws imposing new taxes,
payment of tithes, enclosure of lands, high rents,
etc. These movements became the precursors of
more organized political movements in later years.
In 1761 the Whiteboy movement began in the south.
The Oakboys started in the north in 1763. In 1769
the Steelboy disturbances began in Antrim, and
in 1785 the Rightboy movement started in Munster.
After France
declared war on England in 1778, a Volunteer corps
was set up to help defend Ireland (and ulitmately
England) from possible invasion. The 'Volunteers'
soon began to wield their organized military power
to win political and economic concessions from
England. The extra-parliamentary lobbying of the
'Volunteers' was instrumental in securing Free
Trade for Ireland in 1780 and legislative independence
in 1782.
As the political
climate changed in the 1780's more political factions
came on the scene with the emergence of the Catholic
'Defenders' in Armagh, formed to resist disarming
raids carried on by Protestant groups such as
the Peep O'Day Boys (making their raids in early
morning).
The outbreak
of the French Revolution in 1789 encouraged the
Protestant and Presbyterian middle-class to campaign
for reform of the representative system under
the banner of the 'United Irishmen' in the mid
1790's. Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of its notable
leaders, publishes a pamphlet entitled "An
argument on behalf of the Catholics of Ireland".
The United Irishmen tried to unite Dissenters
and Catholics, as well as all Irishmen, against
Anglican rule.
As a result
of fears of revolution sweeping Europe (and having
lost America), the Act for the Relief of 1793
was passed in an effort to appease the large Irish
population persecuted by the earlier Penal Laws;
mainly Catholics, Presbyterians and Dissenters.
Although not granting full civil rights, the Act
lifted restrictions on Catholics to buy and sell
land, and to educate their children. It also allowed
the right to practice at the bar, to marry Protestants,
and the right to vote for the 'forty-shilling
freeholder cottiers'. They could vote only for
Protestant candidates.
As a reaction
to movements such as the United Irishmen and the
Catholic Defenders, the Protestent-based Orange
Boys formed in 1795. They became the Orange Order,
named for the victor at the Battle of the Boyne,
William of Orange.
The alliance
of the Catholic 'Defenders' and 'United Irishmen'
along revolutionary lines, as well as the new-found
alliance with France, resulted in attempted invasion.
In 1796 the French under Admiral Hoche, persuaded
by Wolfe Tone, sailed to Bantry Bay only to be
turned back by bad weather.
As troubles
continued to brew the English, fearing an Irish
uprising, had many of the leaders of the United
Irishmen arrested in March, 1798. A valiant yet
poorly coordinated uprising soon followed.
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