By the time Wolfe Tone was a young adult, the Irish Parliament in Dublin was controlled by London. The British did not allow Irish Catholics - about 3/4 of the population - to vote. Although he was a Protestant, Wolfe Tone was deeply troubled that so many of his countrymen were disenfranchised.

When Tone became a lawyer in 1789, George Washington was serving as the first U.S. President and France had started its own revolution. Words like "liberty," "equality," and "justice" were on Tone's mind.

After observing the Irish Parliament in session, Tone saw for himself that Ireland was controlled by Britain. He believed Irishmen serving in Parliament were concerned more about British interests than Irish interests. Tone realized change would not occur without serious political activism. He decided to use his legal skills to become a political activist.

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