1912-Easter 1916 (Leaving Cert History): Model Answers

Factors that contributed most to partition of Ireland 1912-20

Essay Plan

INTRO:

• Multiple factors contributed to partition: Tension between North and South over Home Rule, WWI, threat of violence, Sinn Féin, elections, and the First Dáil—though not driven by Republican ideology.

BODY PARAGRAPHS:

1. Ulster's position in the North.
2. Southern Ireland's stance.
3. Movement towards compromise.
4. Impact of WWI on partition.
5. Ireland's opposition to the war.
6. The 1916 Easter Rising.
7. Factors leading to partition, including Sinn Féin's role.
8. Parliamentary reform and the 1918 election.
9. Establishment of the First Dáil and its programmes.
10. Role of Irish Volunteers.

CONCLUSION:

• The South sought full autonomy and eventually became a republic after the Anglo-Irish Treaty was dismantled in 1949.
• Partition, rooted in tension and violence, led to a 26-county republic, excluding the six counties of Ulster.

Sample Essay

Many factors led to the partition of Ireland from 1912 to 1920. Tensions between the North and South over Home Rule, World War 1, and the 1916 Rising contributed to the increased use of violence instead of diplomacy. After the insurrection and War of Independence, republican ideology and the concept of sovereignty became increasingly ingrained in Irish politics. The aims of parties like Sinn Féin significantly contributed to the partition of Ireland in the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Ulster unionists signed the Solemn League & Covenant, a common oath opposing Home Rule. As a result of widespread condemnation of Home Rule, Edward Carson and James Craig set up the Ulster Volunteer Force, an illegal paramilitary group. The organisation threatened the state with violence, and attacks like the Curragh Mutiny proved the shift away from constitutional politics. Weapons were also imported, which the British mostly ignored. Disagreements between the North and South kicked off the partition event.

As a response to the UVF, the Irish Volunteer Force and IRB were formed. Both groups aimed to enforce either Home Rule or a full Irish Republic. As more members began to join these groups, militant nationalism increased. By 1914, the Irish volunteers had around 130,000 members. The organisation was controlled by John Redmond, whose popularity eventually declined due to divisions within the volunteers. Guns were purchased from Belgium with the help of Cumann na mBann, led by Constance Markiewicz. This nationalist women's force raised money for weapons and ammo. Increasing threats of violence over different ideologies in the North and South paved the road to partition.

In 1914, the Buckingham Palace Conference took place. All parties from Ireland were present. King George V believed the partition of Ireland would help resolve the Home Rule crisis. However, no agreement was reached regarding Ulster and the conference ended in a deadlock. It was suggested that the entirety of Ulster be excluded from Home Rule, but ultimately, no agreement was reached. In 1914, Home Rule became law, but it was postponed until after WWI. Home Rulers joined MPs in Westminster, and partition was steadily becoming less of an idea and more of a reality.

World War 1 had a significant impact on Ireland and its political situation. Though Redmond offered National support to the British to amend relations, it caused divisions amongst the Volunteers. Unionists were keen to support Britain in the war, showing them loyalty. Army divisions were separate for nationalists from the South and Unionists from the North, and they were treated unequally. Ulster Unionists were the favourites. Irish support in WWI caused further division between the North and South, and tensions skyrocketed.

To the Nationalists, the war was seen as "England's difficulty was Ireland's opportunity." Ireland would gain nothing from the war, so opposition to fighting was substantial. Opposition to conscription was the only thing that united all Irishmen. A wartime coalition was formed with all parties involved, excluding Redmond, which reduced the Home Rule party's popularity. Many Irishmen were prepared to fight for independence, further steering Ireland away from Home Rule and positive relations with Britain. The war resulted in a drastic decline from Home Rule. The desire for sovereignty increased which led to partition.

While British attention was elsewhere in the middle of WWI, an insurrection was planned. The Rebellion occurred over Easter week in 1916, aiming to establish an Irish Republic. The Rebellion mostly failed due to a lack of preparedness and insufficient supplies, leading to death and destruction. Many of the leaders of the Rising were executed, which shifted public opinion from against the rebels to in support of them. They were seen as martyrs for the cause. Support for republicanism grew. Though partition was not a republican ideal, it was the root cause of much disagreement, which the 1916 Rising emphasised.

The political republican party, Sinn Féin, was wrongly accused of orchestrating the Rising, which only increased their support from nationalists. They followed a policy of abstention and did not attend Westminster, as their ultimate goal was complete separation from Britain. The party established the (illegal) Dáil parliament from Dublin, skyrocketing their popularity again. The military and politics in Ireland were under one leader for the first time, and with overwhelming support, separation from Britain became the main aim of Irish nationalists.

Due to Sinn Féin's promise to establish a separate government for Ireland, they won the 1918 election. This win was a seal of approval from the people for Sinn Féin's ideologies and militant tactics. In Ulster, unionist's support only rose. Sinn Féin's blinding popularity due to their tactics and significant catholic support redrew Ireland's political map, whereas the protestant majority up north grew. Divisions between Ulster and the South were paramount, as highlighted by-election results. Both sides had vastly different goals, ultimately contributing to the partition's realisation.

With republican popularity in the South solid, the first Dáil was established in 1919. A priest opened the meeting, emphasising the Republicans' desire for close relations with the church. Sinn Féin's president, de Valera, read the new constitution exclusively in Irish. The Dáil organised programmes which aimed to develop Ireland, offering grants to farmers and fishermen and establishing the Dáil courts, which dealt with civil crises and matters. Sinn Féin had no opposition in the Dáil, so it was undemocratic, but separation from Britain was emphasised, contributing to the implementation of partition.

As the desire for sovereignty grew, the War of Independence broke out. Many republicans believed in the means of physical force to achieve their goal. The Irish Volunteers, as a result, were renamed the Irish Republican Army, or the IRA, who were all willing to fight for the Irish cause. There was a difficult decision to be made between diplomacy and military policy, and these divisions made it difficult to run an effective campaign against the British. Violence between the British and Irish ceased after the Government of Ireland Act was introduced, and terms for a treaty to partition Ireland began to be drafted between Sinn Féin and the British.

Ultimately, republicans in the South wanted Ireland to be a free state with full autonomy and control over their affairs. Lots of violence stemmed from the partition, which included the War of Independence and the Civil War. Eventually, the Irish Free State was established by signing the Anglo-Irish Treaty. This resulted in the Civil War, and the Free State became a republic in 1949 after the dismantlement of the Treaty. Conclusively, partition was not a republican ideal, as they aimed for a united 32-county Ireland.