Ireland from 1916-23

Key Event 1: The 1916 Easter Rising

After the outbreak of World War I, the IRB leaders began to plan a rising, believing that "Britain's difficulty was Ireland's opportunity."

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Planning the Rising

• The IRB formed a secret Military Council to organise the Rising.
• Members included Thomas Clarke, Seán Mac Diarmada, Pádraig Pearse, Joseph Plunkett, Éamon Ceannt, James Connolly and Thomas McDonagh.
• Funds for weapons came largely from Irish-Americans, and Sir Roger Casement also brought arms from Germany.
• The Rising was planned for Easter Sunday, 23rd April 1916. The date was chosen for its symbolic link to Christ's sacrifice.
• James Connolly, leader of the Irish Citizen Army, joined the IRB's plans.

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The Involvement of the Irish Volunteers

Eoin MacNeill, who opposed the rebellion, was shown the Castle Document (a forgery) to convince him of British plans to disarm the Irish Volunteer Force.

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The Plans Go Wrong

• The Aud, carrying German weapons, was captured by the British, and Sir Roger Casement was arrested.
• MacNeill discovered the forgery and cancelled the Irish Volunteer Force's participation.
• Despite setbacks, the Military Council decided to proceed with the Rising, one day late.

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The Rising Goes Ahead

• The Rising began on Easter Monday, 24th April 1916. Only Dublin Volunteers could gather at short notice.
  • About 1,500 Volunteers and members of the Irish Citizen Army occupied city center buildings, with headquarters at the GPO. Pearse read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

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Britain's Response

• British forces quickly reinforced and outnumbered the rebels.
• The gunboat Helga shelled the GPO.
• By Friday, the rebels were defeated, and Pearse surrendered on Saturday.
• The Rising was over by Monday, 1st May.

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Consequences of the Easter Rising

1. The Rising was a military failure but set in motion events leading to Irish independence.
2. 485 people were killed, and around 3,000 were imprisoned. 16 leaders were executed, including Pearse and Connolly.
3. Public sympathy for the rebels soared, and Sinn Féin's popularity rose, despite not being directly involved.

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**Key Event 2:

Ireland 1919-1921: The War of Independence**

The Rise of Sinn Féin & The First Dáil

• Sinn Féin's popularity rose after the Easter Rising, and the Irish Parliamentary Party's (IPP) support declined.
• Sinn Féin aimed for international recognition of Ireland as an independent republic.
• Éamon de Valera became Sinn Féin leader in 1917.
• The Conscription Crisis and the German Plot in 1918 boosted Sinn Féin's support.

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The 1918 General Election

Sinn Féin won 73 out of 105 Irish seats, showing the demand for a republic. They refused to attend Westminster and formed the First Dáil in Dublin on 21st January 1919.

The First Dáil

• The Dáil met at the Mansion House and declared itself the parliament of the Irish Republic. Key figures included Éamon de Valera as President and Michael Collins as Minister for Finance.
• The Dáil gained control of local governments and set up Dáil Courts.

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The War of Independence, 1919-1921

• The war began on the same day as the First Dáil met, with an ambush in Soloheadbeg, Co. Tipperary.
• The Irish Volunteers became the Irish Republican Army (IRA), using guerrilla warfare tactics.
• Michael Collins organised an intelligence network and formed the Squad to assassinate spies.

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The Methods of the British

The Black and Tans and Auxiliaries were recruited to support the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and carried out reprisals against local people.

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Key Events of the War of Independence

• 20 March 1920: British forces murdered Tomás MacCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork.
• 25 October 1920: Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork, died after a 74-day hunger strike.
• 21 November 1920 (Bloody Sunday): Collins' Squad killed 13 British intelligence agents. In retaliation, the Auxiliaries killed 12 civilians in Croke Park.
• 28 November 1920: Tom Barry's West Cork Brigade ambushed and killed 18 Auxiliaries.
• 25 May 1921: The IRA burned the Custom House in Dublin, a significant act of defiance.

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The End of the War of Independence

The war was costly for Britain, leading to a truce on 11th July 1921. Éamon de Valera agreed to negotiations with British Prime Minister Lloyd George.

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**Key Event 3:

Ireland 1921: The Anglo-Irish Treaty**

The Treaty Negotiations

• The Irish delegation included Arthur Griffith, Michael Collins, and others, negotiating with experienced British negotiators like Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.
• The negotiations lasted from October to December 1921.

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The Terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty

Signed on 6th December 1921, the Treaty included terms like:

4. Ireland becoming a dominion within the British Empire, called the Irish Free State.
5. TDs swearing an oath of allegiance to the British Crown.
6. Northern Ireland remaining part of Britain with its own parliament.
7. A boundary commission to decide the border between north and south.

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The Dáil Debates

On 7th January 1922, the Treaty was accepted by 64 votes to 57. De Valera resigned, and Arthur Griffith became the new leader.

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**Key Event 4:

Ireland 1922-1923: The Irish Civil War**

Pro-Treaty and Anti-Treaty Divide

• The Treaty split the country, Sinn Féin, and the IRA into pro-Treaty Regulars and anti-Treaty Irregulars.
• In April 1922, Irregulars occupied the Four Courts in Dublin.

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The Fighting Begins

• Michael Collins reluctantly attacked the Four Courts in June 1922, marking the start of the Irish Civil War.
• The Irregulars retreated to Munster, using guerrilla tactics, but the Free State Army gradually regained control.

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The End of the Civil War

• Arthur Griffith died in August 1922, followed by Michael Collins later that month.
• W.T Cosgrave became the new leader, and the Special Powers Act was passed, leading to the arrest of many Irregulars.
• In May 1923, de Valera and Frank Aiken persuaded the IRA to agree to a ceasefire.

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The Legacy of the Civil War

1. The Civil War left deep divisions, with over 1,500 people killed and significant property damage.
2. The border between north and south remained unchanged.
3. A new constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, was written, establishing the Irish Free State's government structures.
4. The Civil War led to the formation of political parties Cumann na nGaedheal (later Fine Gael) and Fianna Fáil.

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Key Terms

1. Easter Rising: An armed insurrection by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland, aiming to establish an independent Irish Republic in 1916.
2. Irish Volunteers: a paramilitary organisation founded in 1913 to secure and defend Irish rights and liberties, playing a key role in the Easter Rising.
3. Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB): a secret revolutionary organisation founded in 1858 that aimed to establish an independent Irish republic through armed rebellion, instrumental in planning the Easter Rising.
4. Proclamation of the Irish Republic: a document read by Patrick Pearse during the Easter Rising, declaring Ireland's independence from the United Kingdom.
5. Michael Collins: an Irish revolutionary leader, intelligence director of the Irish Volunteers, and key negotiator of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, later leading the pro-treaty forces in the Irish Civil War.
6. Black and Tans: British auxiliary forces deployed to Ireland during the Irish War of Independence, known for their brutal tactics and violent reprisals against civilians.
7. Anglo-Irish Treaty: The Anglo-Irish Treaty was an agreement signed in 1921 between British and Irish representatives that ended the War of Independence and established the Irish Free State as a dominion within the British Commonwealth.
8. Irish Civil War: a conflict between pro-treaty and anti-treaty forces in Ireland, following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, leading to the consolidation of the Irish Free State.
9. Bunreacht na hÉireann: the constitution of Ireland, adopted in 1937, establishing the framework for the government of the Republic of Ireland.
10. Fianna Fáil: an Irish political party founded by Éamon de Valera in 1926, traditionally associated with Irish republicanism and the pursuit of a united Ireland.

Revision Questions

1. What was the significance of the Easter Rising?
2. True or False: The Rising began on Easter Sunday, 23rd April 1916.**
3. Who formed the secret Military Council to organise the Rising?
4. Fill in the blank: The headquarters of the Easter Rising were at the _______.**
5. What were the consequences of the Easter Rising?
6. True or False: Sinn Féin gained popularity after the Easter Rising.**
7. What was the main tactic used by the IRA during the War of Independence?
8. Fill in the blank: The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed on _______.**
9. Who were the pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty leaders in the Dáil debates?
10. True or False: The Irish Civil War ended with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.**

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