Irish Rebellion

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a major uprising against British rule in Ireland, inspired by the American and French Revolutions. It was led primarily by the Society of United Irishmen, a revolutionary group composed mostly of Protestants but also including Catholics, who sought to establish an independent Irish Republic. The rebellion was characterized by brutal conflicts in several counties, notably Wexford, Antrim, and Down, with rebels engaging British forces in bloody confrontations. Despite initial successes, the rebellion was eventually suppressed by British troops with substantial loss of life, highlighted by instances of severe reprisals and atrocities committed by both sides. The defeat of the rebellion facilitated the passing of the Acts of Union in 1800, merging the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.