rise of natuonalism and unionism in ireland 1911-1922

Nationalism

Wanting some form on independence from Ireland

Home Rule Party

Largest nationalist group, political party led by John Redmond

IRB

Secret organization wanted use physical force to establish republic

Sin Féin

Political party, established by Arthur Griffith, wanted dual monarchy, used abstention ( didn’t take seat in parliament) to achieve aims.

Dual monarchy

Ireland + England serperate kingdoms, ruled by same monarch.

Unionism

Wanting to maintain link w Ireland + Britain

Unionist Party

Political party , main group opposed to home rule. Led by Edward Carson and James Craig

Home Rule

Parliament in Dublin take care of domestic issued. E.g education, while Westminster oversee external issues E.g Trade

Partition

Division of Ireland results of 1920 Government Of Ireland Act

Parliamentary

Using politics to achieve change

paramilitary

Unofficial army/ force

1912-1914: Home Rule Crisis

2 year period of tension between nationalist and unionists over potential introduction of Home Rule in Ireland

background and causes

• Liberal Party was in gov in Brit but needed support of HR party.

• Exchange for support, liberals introduced third HR bill 1912

• Third HR bill proposed parliament in Dublin deal w internal affairs. Westminster for external affairs

• 1911 Parliament Act meant conservative House of Lords could only delay the HR bill for 2 years.

Key events

• 1912 Third Home Rule Bill introduced.

• Carson + Craig very against HR, ‘HOME RULE IS ROME RULE’ + feared damage to industrial north

• 1912 ULSTER SOLEMN LEAGUE ABD COVENANT signed by 200,000 Unionist men who swore defend the union by all means

• 1913 ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE (UVF) formed → paramilitary group that imported 35,000 guns through Larne (Larne Gun-Running )

• 1913 IRISH VOLUNTEERS FORCE (IVF) founded by Eoin MacNeill

• 1914 Curragh Mutiny - British army officers said they would resign rather than enforce HR

  • 1914 HOWTH GUN-RUNNING : IVF brought in 900 rifles and 25,000 rounds of ammunition.

Consequences

• attempts find compromise between nationalist and unionists failed

• Looked like Ireland headed civil war

• THIRD HR BILL became law but it postponed until after WWI over

• Nationalist and unionists agreed help British war effort.

1914-1918: Ireland + world war 1

Worst conflict world has seen up to this point. Unionist and most nationalists agreed support British war effort

Key individuals

• Redmond

• Eoin MacNeill

Causes / background

Unionists and most nationalist hoped to appease British by helping in war effort

Key events

• Unionists supported war efforts + joined ULSTER DIVISION British army.

• Nationalists Irish Volunteers split, most support Redmond and Brit war efforts

• National Volunteers>10,000 followed Eoin MacNeill, opposed Irishmen fighting abroad, saw WWI as opportunity fight for republic (1916 rising)

• 250,000 Irishmen joined Brit army. E.g regiments like Royal Munster Fisiliers.

• Around 49,000 Irishmen were killed

1916 Rising

IRB planned armed rebellion believed ‘England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity

Key ppl

Patrick Pearce, James Connolly, Roger Casement, Thomas Clarke, Eoin MacNeill

Causes

• military council of IRB planned rising

• Members (Pearce + Clarke)

• Persuaded James Connolly + Irish Citizen Army to join them.

Key events

• Roger Casement sent to Germany to get arms, Casement and Aud were captured off Kerry coast.

• Military Council gave MacNeill the Castle Document saying Brit planned arrest Irish Volunteer leaders order to convince take part in Rising.

• MacNeill cancelled when truth got out. (Reduced numbers)

• Rising went Easter Monday, 1916

• Pearce believed blood sacrifice, their deaths inspire Irish to keep fighting for independence.

• Rebels took over GPO, BOLANDS MILL + FOUR COURTS.

• Pearse read Proclomation of the Irish Republic at GPO

• Brit shelled Dublin using helga (gunship)

• Rising failed

Why did rising fail

• rising confined to Dublin

• Volunteers outnumbered

• Shortage of guns

• Rising not supported by the people

Consequence

• 16 leaders executed, 14 Kilmainham Gaol, 1 Cork, 1 England

• 500 killed

• 2,500 injured

• 3 mill damage

• 2,000 interned ( imprisoned w/o trial)

• Public opinion move away from HR towards republic

• Gov mistakenly said Sinn Féin rising, Féin gained supporters

War of independence

Guerrilla warfare fought between IRA and British Forces over Irish independence

KEY INDIVIDUALS

Micheal Collin’s

Edmonton de Valera

Causes

• 1918 General Elections - SF popular (73 seats in parliament)- wanted republic.

• Followed abstention policy - Dáil Éireann on 21/1/1919

• De Valera = president of Dáil Éireann. Collin’s = Minister of Finance. Brigham = Minister Denfence

• They declared republic

• IRA used guerrilla warfare.

KEY EVENTS

• 21/1/1919 IRA attacked RIC Soloheadbeg Co.Tip

• Collin= Directer of Intelligence. Set up ‘Squad’ to kill spies and detectives

• IRA organized flying columns ( small groups armed men living rough in the countryside.

• Brit response : Lloyd George (PM) sent ex-soldiers (black+tans) and ex-officers (Auxiliaries) to Ireland.

• 2. 1920 Gov of Ireland Act partitioned Ireland set up 2 parliament 1 Dub 1 Belfast. SF rejected this.

• Tomás Mac Curtain (Lord mayor cork), shot by RIC 1920.

• Terence McSwiney (his successor) hunger strike + died Brixton prison England 1920

• Tom Barry + West Cork ambushed + killed 17 Auxiliaries.

• Black + tans burn cork city centre.

• Collin’s = wanted man. Reward €10,000.

• Bloody Sunday: 21/11/1920- Squad kill 12 spies + 2 Aux

• Brit response: B & T went Croke Park killed 14 civilians

• Dick McKee, Peadar Clancy , Conor Clune. 3 IRA leaders killed Dublin Caslte.

• Both sides wanted peace.

• Ira running out of arms. War= bad Brit reputation.

• 11/7/1921 ceasefire

Consequence

• Anglo-Irish Treaty, 1921

• SF sent delegation (Micheal Collin’s - Arthur Griffith) talks London.

• Dev refused to go . Why?

• He was head of state.

• Wanted to control extremists at home.

• Lloyd George headed British delegation, assisted by Winston Churchill

• Irish aims = republic

• Brit aims= keep Ireland in commonwealth

• 6/12/21 > Anglo Irish Treaty signed. Terms >

• Ireland = Irish free state

• Ireland = dominion ( part of ) Brit commonwealth

• King England represented by governor general

• Members Irish gov swear oath of allegiance to king

• Brit use treaty ports. (Berehaven, cobh, lough swilly)

• Boundary commission decide border between north and south

  dec 1921-Jan 1922 Dáil debated Treaty

• Pro treaty = Ira running out of arms

• Brit threatened immediate + terrible war if not signed

• Treaty = stepping stone to full independence

• Treaty gave Ireland own flag, currency + army (more than hr did)

• Collin’s + Griffith

  Anti-treaty

• Treaty didn’t give Ireland republic

• Better terms could be negotiated.

• Oath of allegiance meant king is head of state.

• De Valera

• 7/1/1922 → Dáil voted 64 to 57 accept treaty. Dev + supporters walked out .

• Griffith replaced DeV president of Executive Council

Civil war 1922-23

Ireland bitterly divided over Anglo-Irish Treaty resulting in outbreak of civil war

Causes

• Treaty caused deep division across country

• April 1922 → irregulars (anti-treaty) took over Four Courts, Dublin

• June 1922 election results → 92 pro-Treaty TDs elected VS 36 anti-Treaty TDs elected

Key eventS

• Collin’s led free state army (regulars) borrowed artillery from Brit to shell four courts .

• 2 days, 200 irregulars inside surrendered

• Irregulars retreated to ‘Munster Republic’

• 60,000 soldiers Free State army easily captured Waterford + Limerick

• 12 August 192s → Griffith died of brain hemorrhage

• 22 August 1922 → Collin’s killed in ambush Béal na bláth co. Cork

• Cosgrave + Kevin O’Higgins new leaders.

• Irregulars used guerrilla warfare but didn’t work. Bc

• Didn’t have people hiding them ( they were for treaty)

• Familiar w countryside

• Liam Lynch ( leader of Irregulars) killed April 1923

• Frank Aiken (new chief or IRA) + DeV called ceasefire May 1923

Consequence

• 2 largest political parties grew out of Pro + Anti sides.

• Important leaders lost

• 1,500 killed. 38 million damage

• Gov. Executed anti treaty leaders.

• Anti-treaty forces assassinated Gov TDs