fianna fáil 1932-1939

  • fianna fáil’s objectives were very similar to those of cumman na nGaedheal in 1923. they faced issues of security, law and order, the economy, and irish sovereignity

  • de valera’s main aim was to dismantle the anglo-irish treaty of 1921

  • de valera’s cabinet consisted as himself as president of the elective council as well as minister for external affairs, sean t. o’kelly as vice president, and sean lemass as minister for industry and commerce

  • de valera calls a snap election 1933. the results give fianna fáil a majority, showing people support him

  • the two main threats to law and order were 1. the IRA and 2. The blueshirts

  • traditionally, fianna fáil had been a supporter of the IRA due to their role in the civil war and war of independence. this relationship was simbiotic, and the IRA support fianna fáil for its policies on the treaty and partition

  • once in power, de valera established a military pension scheme for soldiers involved in the war of independence, unbanned the IRA, and released IRA prisoners

  • believing they now had the support of DeV, the IRA began to break laws, and attack CnaG meetings regularly

  • the blueshirts were another threat to law and order. they were also known as the national guard and the army comrades association.

  • the army comrades association was formed in 1932 just before the election. their aim was to protect the welfare of free state army members and former soldiers.

  • traditionally, ACA supported CnaG due to affiliations during the civil war. they opposed the IRA and clashed with them after de valera lifted the ban

  • in april 1933, aca start wearing blue shirts as their uniform. in july, eoin o’duffy becomes president of ACA and renames the organisation the national guard

  • the national guard begin to move more into facism, and o’duffy organises a march in july 1933 to commemorate kevin o’higgins, micheal collins and arthur griffith. it echoed mussolini’s march on rome

  • de valera bans the march and sets up an armed police unit called the S branch to deal with the national guard. de valera declares the organisation illegal in august

  • as for foreign affairs, fianna fáil are much more involved in the league of nations than cumann na ngaedheal. in 1932, ireland takes over chairmanship of the General Assembly Of The League Of Nations, and de valera was appointed president of the council

  • dev hoped the league could protect ireland as he worked to dismantle the treaty, and also agreed with sanctions on mussolini

  • in 1926, kevin o’higgins got british to declare all dominions equal to one another and britain in the imperial conference

  • this came into law in 1931 in the Statute Of Westminster, granting dominions control over their won affairs. this meant that british laws could only extend to dominions with permission, dominions could reject any law previously passed, and dominions had full authority to make their own laws.

  • de valera and fianna fáil exploited this law to undo the anglo-irish treaty of 1921. de valera used the statute to remove various articles from the treaty, such as the oath which came into law in 1933, and abolishing the governor general in 1937.

  • the abdication of king edward viii forced a constitutional crisis in england. de valera used this an excuse to remove king as head of state in ireland, and the constitutional amendment act took all mention of the king and representatives of the crown out of the constitution

  • the external relations act recognised king as head of the commonwealth, and ireland was now only associated with the common wealth rather than a member of it

  • britain was unhappy with the changes, but did not want to confront at such a difficult time due to provoking other nations

  • bunreacht na heireann (1937) was de valera’s constitution. some new elements included a 7 year president, a taoiseach, ireland claimed as the island and its waters, recognition of the special position of the catholic church and the outlawing of divorce.

  • the constitution was accepted by referendum in june 1937

  • anglo irish agreement 1938; 3 separate agreements signed, on april 25th 1938.

  • financial agreement ended the economic war that had been ongoing since 1932. ireland had to pay 10 million to settle land annuities

  • trade agreement reduced tariffs between the 2 countries to allow easier trade

  • defence agreement returned the treaty ports to ireland. de valera agreed that these couldnt be used by any other nation