1798 Rebellion And Waterford - Waterford County Museum

Waterford County Museum - Historical Articles

1798 Rebellion And Waterford - 1. Introduction

In the 1790's the Irish Parliament was exclusively Protestant. The political and economic power was under their control. Increased competition for land caused agrarian violence and secret societies such as Whiteboys, Oakboys, etc., were set up.
The most important external influence in Ireland in the late 18th century was the American War of Independence. In the 1770's elements of the Irish Parliament under Henry Grattan began to campaign for legislative Independence from England and an end to trade restrictions on Irish goods. They had support from the Volunteer force which had been established to defend the country against a French Invasion.
In 1782 the English Government acceded to the wish for an Irish Parliament, independent of Westminster. However the Irish Parliament did not have much power apart from its location in Dublin and its symbolic value.

The French Revolution in 1789 had an important impact on Ireland. Radical reformers in Ireland disillusioned with the slow pace of the reforms looked to France for answers.

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