Irish Patriot: Wolfe Tone

Centuries before radio and television disseminated news, political cartoons and pamphlets were the vehicles which aroused passion among citizens. Wolfe Tone wrote An Argument on Behalf of the Catholics of Ireland which endeared him to the Catholic population. In the pamphlet, Tone argued Ireland should be:

Free from Britain
and
Free from religious oppression

To achieve that goal, Tone and two other Irish Protestants (James Napper Tandy and Thomas Russell) co-founded the Society of United Irishmen in 1791. Tone and his colleagues wanted to downplay religious differences, since England was effectively using those differences to control the country. As Tone said later, he wanted

To break the connection with England...and to assert the independence of my country - these were my objects. To...substitute the common name of Irishman in place of the denominations of Protestant, Catholic, and Dissenter - these were my means.

George III, who was still king of England in 1791, was no more interested in Irish independence than he had been interested in American freedom. Besides, the "catechism" United Irishmen were teaching was threatening to English interests:

What have you got in your hand?
A green bough.

Where did it first grow?
In America.

Where did it bud?
In France.

Where are you going to plant it?
In the crown of Great Britain.

It wasn't long before Britain banned the United Irishmen and exiled Wolfe Tone.