Wolf Tone tried to get French help for a rising in 1796. Hope of this rising were destroyed because of fog. Then in 1798 he initiated another rising with the help of The United Irishmen. Between the years of 1845 and 1848 Ireland was swept by a devastating famine which wiped out most of the population. This famine was caused by a potato blight which destroyed the crop that so many of the Irish people depended on for food. As a result of this the Irish people were devastated and something needed to be done. So, in 1856 an organisation called the Fenians, founded by 'O Donovan Rossa, was formed. Its main aim was to relieve Ireland of British rule. Their were many rebellions throughout Ireland in the next 50 years none of which achieved any real success. However during this period the Fenians were recruiting constantly. They had no shortage of volunteers as people were outraged by the long inprisonments the rebel leaders received. Many of the republicans wanted outright control of Ireland though the majority had their hopes set on Home Rule. This would have ensured that Ireland would be governed from inside the country and not from England. Leaders such as Charles Stewart Parnell and Joseph Biggar used their obstructive tactics in the British Parliament. Back in Ireland Michael Davitt used his organisational skills to help Ireland's cause. Coming into the 20th century the Irish tried a new approach for freedom. They decided to form a nationalist armed force called the Irish Volunteers. These would be the main contributors to the 1916 rebellion.