Easter Rising Background.

Page 1: The 1916 Rising

• Background to the Easter Rising

Page 2: The Irish Volunteers Split

• September 1914:

• John Redmond called on the Irish Volunteers to join the British army.

• Many Irish Volunteers responded positively to this call.

• Eoin MacNeill and others refused, emphasizing allegiance to Ireland, not Britain.

Page 3: The IRB

• Leadership:

• Thomas Clarke and Sean MacDermott took leadership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).

• They recruited new members into the IRB, many becoming significant players in the Irish Volunteers.

• 1914 Plan:

  • The IRB aimed to utilize the global conflict as an opportunity for rebellion.

  • A military council initiated plans for a rebellion and sought weapons through SIR ROGER CASEMENT via Germany.

Page 4: The IRB and James Connolly

• The IRB was aware that James Connolly was also planning a rebellion.

• They successfully persuaded him to participate in a rising planned for Easter Sunday 1916.

Page 5: Patrick Pearse

• Role and Interests:

• Patrick Pearse was a vital member of the IRB.

• Initially trained in law but dedicated to education and promoting the Irish language.

• Operated St. Enda's school focusing on language and cultural education.

• Shift in Political Stance:

• Pearse initially supported Home Rule but became an extreme nationalist in reaction to Unionist violence, joining both the IRB and Irish Volunteers.

Page 6: Preparations for the Rising

• Pearse assumed the role of director of operations within the Irish Volunteers.

• During 1914-1916, he organized numerous military exercises to prepare for the Rising.

• Many Volunteers were unaware that they were being utilized by the IRB, and that the planned exercises for Easter Sunday 1916 were actually intended as a full-scale rebellion.