Tyrone Rebellion

Question 1

Main Cause

Answer 1

Neglect was the main cause of rebellion as the leader and instigator of the rebellion was principally aggrieved with Elizabeth’s recent policy of non-interference backfired causing enough instability for a rebellion.

Question 2

Dates

Answer 2

1595 - 1603

Question 3

Religious causes

Answer 3

English controlled areas of Connaught and Munster has protestant churches established at the expense of Catholic ones. System of plantations encouraged entrepreneurial English protestants to move to Ireland, bringing their religion with them.

Question 4

Government interference causes

Answer 4

The number of plantations had increased since the start of Elizabeth’s reign and the English repeatedly increased rent.
System of plantations had greatly threatened the Irish Chieftain’s system of land control.
Englishmen had been given lands from the Geraldine and Munster rebellions.
Efforts to colonise Ireland had increased.
Compositions and fines paid instead of doing military service were also starting to be enforced in Ireland

Question 5

Government neglect causes (O’Neill)

Answer 5

Showed consistent loyalty to Elizabeth by fighting against the Geraldine Rebellion in 1580, Upon becoming Earl of Tyrone he also executed the remainder of the Spanish Armada after their defeat in the English channel.
Tyrone aided local English Garrisons.
Elizabeth followed a policy of non-interference and never formally recognised O’Neill’s service to the crown.

Question 6

Causes Government Neglect (Elizabeth)

Answer 6

Elizabeth was personally funding Dutch rebels in the Netherlands and fighting the war against Spain, Elizabeth did not invest financially in developing her Kingdom in Ireland, or specifically in the Northern County of Ulster which Tyrone controlled, the system of Garrisons also did not extend into this area.
Lord Deputy Fitzwilliam was aging and made no attempts to establish order in Dublin.
Factional disputes in Irish governance caused clan-warfare and raids.

Question 7

Political Causes

Answer 7

Clan leaders and Irishmen who wanted self-governance were frustrated by the rapid increase of English control over Ireland. This happened after 1541 when Henry VIII proclaimed himself “King of Ireland”.

Question 8

Economic causes

Answer 8

New owners in Connaught and Munster raised rents and bribed juries to obtain favourable verdicts.