Croppy facts for kids
A Croppy was a nickname given to United Irishmen rebels during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. These rebels were fighting against British rule in Ireland.
What Was a Croppy?
The name "Croppy" became popular in 18th-century Ireland. It referred to people who wore their hair cut short, or "cropped." These Irish nationalists did not like the long, powdered wigs that were common among the powerful Protestant Ascendancy.
They were inspired by a group in the French Revolution called the sans-culottes. This French group also avoided wearing fancy wigs and other symbols of the wealthy.
Croppies During the 1798 Rebellion
During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, many United Irishmen rebels chose to wear their hair cropped. Because of this, the government forces, like the militia and yeomanry, often arrested anyone with this hairstyle. They suspected these people were rebels.
To identify "croppies," some harsh methods were used. One method involved putting a cap filled with hot tar on a person's head. This was a cruel way to try and make people confess or to mark them. In response, the rebels sometimes cut the hair of people who supported the government. This made it harder for the government to tell who was a rebel just by their hairstyle.
See also
- Defenders
- Ribbonmen
- The Croppy Boy
- Whiteboys
