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The '''United Irishmen''' were an organisation agitating for [[Ireland|Irish]] independence from [[United Kingdom|Britain]] at the end of the eighteenth centuary. They were led by the [[Protestant]] [[Wolfe Tone]], who was alse the National Secretary of the [[Catholic]] Commitee.

The '''United Irishmen''' were an organisation agitating for [[Ireland|Irish]] independence from [[United Kingdom|Britain]] at the end of the eighteenth century. They were led by the [[Protestant]] [[Wolfe Tone]], who was also the National Secretary of the [[Catholic]] Committee.

Tone was concerned by the plight of the mass of the Irish Catholic population writing; "...they have been stripped of all land, the bulk are in the lowest degree of misery, they seldom taste bread, live in wretched hovels and labour incessently".

Tone was concerned by the plight of the mass of the Irish Catholic population writing; "...they have been stripped of all land, the bulk are in the lowest degree of misery, they seldom taste bread, live in wretched hovels and labor incessantly".

He attempted to unite Catholics and Protestants and had many avid [[Presbytarian]] followers.

He attempted to unite Catholics and Protestants and had many avid [[Presbytarian]] followers.

Wolfe Tone planned to persuade the [[France|French]] to send an army that would back an uprising against the aristocracy. After repeated requests, the [[French Directory]], seeing an oppotunity to weaken British power, agreed. A singe fleet was sent under the command of [[Hoche]] to land at [[Cork]] on the south coast of [[Ireland]] in December 1796. However, a freak [[huricane]] forced the fleet to return.

Wolfe Tone planned to persuade the [[France|French]] to send an army that would back an uprising against the aristocracy. After repeated requests, the [[French Directory]], seeing an oppotunity to weaken British power, agreed. A singe fleet was sent under the command of [[Hoche]] to land at [[Cork]] on the south coast of [[Ireland]] in December 1796. However, a freak [[hurricane]] forced the fleet to return.

The fleet had, however, been spotted adn the Chief Secretary for Ireland, [[Lord Pelham]], ordered a reign of terror. Anyone suspected of supporting the invasion or Wolfe Tone was to be flogged.

The fleet had, however, been spotted and the Chief Secretary for Ireland, [[Lord Pelham]], ordered a reign of terror. Anyone suspected of supporting the invasion or Wolfe Tone was to be flogged.

Sending a [[foriegn]] force to subdue an area by force predictably backfired and much of the population of Ireland was impressed that the French had sent anyone at all. The United Irishmen grew in numbers  until there were 120,000 across [[Ulster]]. At this point the [[Royal Navy]] were on the point of mutiny. A second, more half hearted French invasion failed however. In part due to the support garnered for British rule by newly set up [[Orange Lodge]]s.

Sending a [[foreign]] force to subdue an area by force predictably backfired and much of the population of Ireland was impressed that the French had sent anyone at all. The United Irishmen grew in numbers  until there were 120,000 across [[Ulster]]. At this point the [[Royal Navy]] were on the point of mutiny. A second, more half hearted French invasion failed however. In part due to the support garnered for British rule by newly set up [[Orange Lodge]]s.

[[Category:Ireland]]

[[Category:Ireland]]