The Struggle for Independence (1919-1923)

2 causes of the War of Independence

2 Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) constables, James McDonnell and Patrick O'Connell, were killed
Formation of Dáil Éireann on the same day (21 January 1919), declared independence

Tactics of the IRA

Guerrilla warfare, Collins’ the Squad, flying columns

Black and Tans

ex-British soldiers

Auxiliaries

ex-British officers

20 March 1920

British forces murder the Lord Mayor of Cork, Tomás MacCurtain, who led the Cork Volunteers in the Rising.

25 October 1920

Terence MacSwiney (Lord Mayor of Cork) dies in Brixton Prison, London after 74 days on hunger strike.

1 November 1920

Kevin Barry (18) is hanged for taking part in a Dublin ambush in which a British soldier was killed.

21 November 1920 (Dawn)

Collins's Squad kills 14 British intelligence agents, British Army officers, and members of the RIC.

21 November 1920 (Afternoon)

Bloody Sunday: Auxiliaries open fire at Croke Park during a Dublin vs. Tipperary football match, killing 14 people including player Michael Hogan.

21 November 1920 (Evening)

British authorities kill three IRA men in Dublin Castle.

28 November 1920

Tom Barry and the West Cork Brigade ambush and kill 18 Auxiliaries in Kilmichael, Co. Cork.

December 1920 (Retaliation)

Auxiliaries burn Cork city centre in retaliation for the Kilmichael Ambush.

25 May 1921

The IRA burns Dublin's Custom House, destroying centuries of records; 80 IRA men are killed or captured.

Reasons for truce

War cost Brits £20m/year
IRA running out of arms and ammo
Brits were criticized home and abroad

Name 3 Irish delegates

Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, Robert Barton

Name 3 British delegates

Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, Austin Chamberlain

3 Treaty Terms

Ireland would be a dominion
The king would be represented by a Governor-general
Ireland would be known as the Irish Free State

2 Arguments for treaty

They couldn’t fund a war against Britain for any longer
The Treaty was an improvement over Home Rule

2 Arguments against Treaty

The Treaty left Ireland partitioned
They should have achieved better terms

Sinn Féin and Treaty

Voted Pro Treaty 64-57 on the 7th January 1922, de Valera resigned and his supporters left

Cause of Irish Civil War

Brit Unionist Henry Wilson was assassinated and General O’Connell, leader of the Free State Army was kidnapped. On the 28th June 1922 Collins attacked the Four Courts with British artillery.

Events of June 28th, 1922

Irregulars surrendered after 2 Days, 64 people including Brugha died in Dublin. Irregulars retreated to Munster and formed the Munster Republic. Free State army grew to 60k and outnumbered the Irregulars

Death of Collins

22 August 1922. Ambush in Béal na Bláth, Cork

Special Powers Act

Allowed the Free State Goverment to arrest, try and execute IRA members

When was the ceasefire of the Civil War declared?

24 May 1923

3 Consequences of the Irish Civil War

Death and damage to property
A divided country
Political developments after the Civil War

What act formed Northern Ireland?

Government of Ireland Act 1920

Effects of the Government of Ireland Act had on Catholics living in Northern Ireland

Led to sectarianism and violence. Nationalists like Joseph Devlin didn’t take their seats for 6 years in protest.