'The French Revolution of 1789 had a profound effect on Irish Revolutionary thought' Discuss.

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‘The French Revolution of 1789 had a profound effect on Irish Revolutionary thought.’  Discuss.

Keith Connaughton

Student No. 99461323                                        10/11/99

With the fall of the Bastille on the 14th of July, 1789, and the proceeding French Revolution, the ideas and the inspirations which accompanied it diffused across Europe as its inhabitants watched on in awe and in hope, and in fear also.  The ideas of  ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’, along with the ‘Rights of Man’ and the principles of democracy, were proclaimed, and military help was offered to all those suppressed nations who wished to assert their liberty.  All of Europe was now open to the influence of French revolutionary thought, and the discontented peoples of the continent, not least those of whom were Irish, stood to be intensely affected.  The estranged Presbyterians and Catholics of Ireland, along with many privileged Protestants, would learn much from French example.  The Presbyterians, in particular, already had strong republican tendencies and these could only be augmented by the contemporary political climate that had been established by the French Revolution.

What the French had achieved, in simple terms, was the overthrow of Europe's most despotic monarchy, along with the corrupt and indifferent aristocracy that supported it.  Along with this,  they also abolished all religious tithes and disqualifications, and confiscated and redistributed all Church lands.  In line with such revolutionary changes, a democratic government was established and franchise was given to all males, regardless of religious or social stature, or of property ownership.  To draw comparisons between pre-revolutionary France and late 18th century Ireland is not inherently difficult: in Ireland, as in France, an undemocratic monarchy wielded great power, as did the similarly corrupt aristocracy which upheld it.  Privilege was given by law to those who professed  the Anglican faith, and those of other religions, specifically Catholics, but Presbyterians also, were consequently persecuted and withheld from the upper echelons of society.  Tithes for the Established (Anglican) Church were exacted unwillingly from these people also.  Therefore, that the disaffected Presbyterians, and Catholics also, should draw influence from the proceedings of the French Revolution should come as little surprise.  They had been shown by their near neighbours that a repressive monarchy could be overthrown, that land ownership could be revolutionised, and, not least of all, that each person (man) could be given a voice; they had been given food for revolutionary thought.

Needless to say, the influence of the French Revolution impacted in varying degrees upon the different social and religious groupings in Ireland at the time.  Most greatly impressed by the happenings, it can be seen, were the Presbyterians, or Dissenters, centred around the North East and Belfast.  Mostly of middle-class orientation, and of growing prosperity, the Presbyterians of  Belfast and its surrounding areas were becoming increasingly aware of their inferior standing in society, and of the restrictions imposed upon them by the Protestant Aristocracy, even if these were not as repressive as those enforced upon Catholics.  They had always been known to be extremely active in political and intellectual thought, and more often than not were of a reformist and republican disposition.  Following the French Revolution, Belfast was to rapidly become a hotbed for republican and  revolutionary thought, and for French sympathy.  By the end of 1790, it was noted that an increasing number of resolutions were being distributed around the city urging the discontinuance of tithes and also articulating the ‘glorious spirit’ displayed by the French in ‘adopting the wise system of Republican Government, and abrogating the enormous power and abused influence’ of the clergy.  In July 1791, all the volunteers of the city attended a celebration of the anniversary of the French Revolution, and there toasts were made to Tom Paine, George Washington and to the French Revolution itself.  Also, demands were made for equal representation of all and for the abolishment of the penal laws.

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        The impact of the French Revolution upon the Dissenters of the North was more specific than to just produce a general sympathy for its proceedings.  As well as nourishing and enhancing their revolutionary tendencies, one of the most powerful demonstrations it provided for them was the simple exhibition that Catholics could accept liberty.  Up until the beginning of the revolution, it was a general belief among them, as it was among most Protestants, that Catholics could not accept, and could not be trusted with, any form of freedom; it was believed that they were wholly subservient to Vatican interests and ...

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