https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld Discover more about what the Fenians did worldwide. en-us 2020-11-10 11:06:55 UTC 2025-11-28 14:39:30 UTC hello@padlet.com 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/907982659 John O' Mahoney was leader of the Fenians in New York. He founded the organisation in 1858, along with James Stephens who founded the organisation in Ireland.]]> 2020-11-10 11:08:25 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/907982659 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/907984182 During the Great Famine, a lot of people left the country in search of a better life. Many people ended up in New York, as there were a lot of ships from Ireland to New York at the time. This led to a large Irish community living in New York City.]]> 2020-11-10 11:09:10 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/907984182 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/907985295 The Fenians in New York were split into two groups. 
One group wanted to support the rising in Ireland, but the other group wanted to focus their efforts on bringing international attention to the situation in Ireland. 
They wanted to invade Canada to the North which was at the time part of the British Empire. They thought that by doing this, everyone would have to pay attention to the injustice happening with British rule in Ireland. 

]]> 2020-11-10 11:09:43 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/907985295 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/908056938 A Canadian invasion was attempted but they ultimately failed. 

When the rising started in Ireland in March 1867 they sent over a small ship called "Erin's Hope" to help the men. It carried several thousand rifles, and 40 soldiers, but didn't arrive until May 1867 when the rising was long over and the men were defeated badly. ]]> 2020-11-10 11:44:53 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/908056938 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924531014 The Fenians bought large amounts of weaponry, and planned a series of raids into Canada.

They wanted to disrupt the transport lines across Canada, so that the British would be forced to give Ireland its freedom in exchange for Canada. 

In April 1866 700 Fenians arrived on the American/Canadian border. The British were quick however, and soon war ships arrived on the scene and the Fenians had to disperse. 

Throughout the following weeks and months, raids were carried out along the Canadian border. However, the US army managed to seize many of their weapons and by June there were very few men left involved in the fighting. ]]> 2020-11-15 14:32:34 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924531014 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924542915 Many Irish Fenians who had been arrested by the British were shipped off to Australia to serve time in prison.

62 men were shipped to western Australia between 1865 and 1867.]]> 2020-11-15 14:40:07 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924542915 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924547677 The imprisoned men served their time in the city of Fremantle.]]> 2020-11-15 14:43:23 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924547677 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924550621 IN 1874, many of the prisoners had been released, on the condition that they do not return to Ireland. However, there were still some men imprisoned. They came up with a plan to escape the prison. They wanted to do this by stealth, rather than by force.]]> 2020-11-15 14:45:21 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924550621 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924560230 With the help of donations to the organisation, Fenians in New York purchased a ship and filled it with goods so that it would not seem suspicious. They sailed it to Australia. The men on board pretended to be Americans when they arrived in Australia so that no one would suspect them.]]> 2020-11-15 14:51:55 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924560230 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924576033 The rescue crew and the escaped prisoners]]> 2020-11-15 15:02:01 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924576033 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924579273 Fremantle Prison location]]> 2020-11-15 15:04:10 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924579273 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924579707 2020-11-15 15:04:28 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924579707 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924588329 The raids in Canada lasted over 15 years but never got the reaction the Irish had been looking for.]]> 2020-11-15 15:10:00 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924588329 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924591973 By the 1870's there were groups of Fenians in every major town in England. Things were more dangerous for Fenians in England than in Ireland, as they had obviously much less support. ]]> 2020-11-15 15:12:14 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924591973 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924600445 30 - 40 Fenians attacked a horse-drawn police van which was transporting two arrested leader of the group.

One police officer who was inside the van and carrying the keys was shot dead as the Fenians attempted to force their way inside.

The prisoners inside the van took the keys from the dead man's body and handed them out through the bars to the rescuers outside, and they escaped.

Modern day scene of the attack:]]> 2020-11-15 15:17:35 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924600445 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924656741 The van was transporting six prisoners in total, one of whom was a 12 year old boy.

As the van passed under a bridge, a Fenian jumped into the middle of the road with a pistol and ordered the driver to stop.

At the same time, about 30-40 Fenians jumped over the bridge and surrounded the van and the officers. The officers were easily outnumbered as there was only 12 of them, and the Fenians won the fight and escaped. 

]]> 2020-11-15 15:52:13 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924656741 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924661206 2020-11-15 15:54:53 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924661206 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924662212 2020-11-15 15:55:28 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924662212 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924666142 Five men were sentenced to death for the murder of the police officer.]]> 2020-11-15 15:57:46 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924666142 6thclasshistory https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924669105 2020-11-15 15:59:38 UTC https://padlet.com/6thclasshistory/feniansworld/wish/924669105