Wind that Shakes the Barley

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SOCIETY OF UNITED IRISHMEN

Although Ireland had its own parliament, the British government did not allow Irish Catholics - about three-quarters of the population - to vote. Theobold Wolfe Tone, an Irish lawyer, believed this religious discrimination had to end.

When Tone became a lawyer in 1789, George Washington was serving as America's first President, and French citizens were revolting against their monarchy. Words like liberty, equality and justice were on Tone's mind.

After observing the Irish Parliament in session, Tone was convinced that his country was controlled by Britain. He believed Irishmen serving in Parliament were concerned more about British interests than Irish interests. Tone realized change would not occur without serious political activism. He decided to use his legal skills to become a political activist.

Centuries before technology disseminated “the news,” political cartoons and pamphlets were the vehicles which aroused a citizen's emotions. 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 British 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.