Page "Irish Rebellion of 1798" Paragraph 1

Since 1691 and the end of the Williamite war, Ireland had chiefly been controlled by the minority Anglican Protestant Ascendancy constituting members of the established Church loyal to the British Crown.

It governed through a form of institutionalised sectarianism codified in the Penal Laws which discriminated against both the majority Irish Catholic population and non-Anglican Protestants ( for example Presbyterians ).

In the late 18th century, liberal elements among the ruling class were inspired by the example of the American Revolution ( 1776 – 1783 ) and sought to form common cause with the Catholic populace to achieve reform and greater autonomy from Britain.

As in England, the majority of Protestants, as well as all Catholics, were barred from voting because they did not pass a property threshold.