Irish Irish IndependenceIndependence

Background-Pre WWIBackground-Pre WWI

Irish Party under leadership of John Redmond Irish Party under leadership of John Redmond wants home rule through constitutional meanswants home rule through constitutional means

1909: Liberal government headed by British 1909: Liberal government headed by British P.M. Asquith needs support of the Irish Party in P.M. Asquith needs support of the Irish Party in Parliament to keep his government in power; Parliament to keep his government in power; agree to help in exchange for home rule bill agree to help in exchange for home rule bill

1912—Home Rule Act passed by the House of 1912—Home Rule Act passed by the House of Commons; becomes law on September 15, Commons; becomes law on September 15, 1914, 1914, but temporarily put on hold because of but temporarily put on hold because of WWI WWI

During the WarDuring the War

Irish unionists in Northern Irish unionists in Northern Ireland under the Ireland under the leadership of Sir Edward leadership of Sir Edward Carson vow to fight Carson vow to fight against Home Rule against Home Rule

1913 establish 1913 establish Ulster Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)Volunteer Force (UVF), a , a quasi-army with over quasi-army with over 100,000 “enlisted” men—100,000 “enlisted” men—begin arming heavilybegin arming heavily

Irish Volunteers (nationalist/home rule) Irish Volunteers (nationalist/home rule) form in response to UVFform in response to UVF

2 sides theoretically put aside differences 2 sides theoretically put aside differences for the sake of the war effortfor the sake of the war effort

Over 200,000 Irishmen fight in WWI; Over 200,000 Irishmen fight in WWI; 60,000 never returned 60,000 never returned

The Easter Rising, 1916The Easter Rising, 1916

Most people in Ireland support either home rule Most people in Ireland support either home rule or union; idea of republic has very little public or union; idea of republic has very little public supportsupport

Revolutionary Irish Republican Brotherhood Revolutionary Irish Republican Brotherhood doesn’t let that stop them—they plan the Easter doesn’t let that stop them—they plan the Easter Rising for Rising for Easter Monday, 1916 Easter Monday, 1916

The British know something is stirring; at the last The British know something is stirring; at the last minute, the leadership of the IRB publicly minute, the leadership of the IRB publicly cancels the rising, but the military committee cancels the rising, but the military committee decides to go ahead with it anyway decides to go ahead with it anyway

Take over various building in Dublin, such Take over various building in Dublin, such as the General Post Office, College of as the General Post Office, College of Surgeon, Four CourtsSurgeon, Four Courts

Radio Archives

Rebels, who now call themselves Rebels, who now call themselves the Irish the Irish Republican Army, surrender on SaturdayRepublican Army, surrender on Saturday

3,000 casualties; public sentiment is initially 3,000 casualties; public sentiment is initially supportive of government’s response supportive of government’s response

The Government’s ReactionThe Government’s Reaction

General Sir John Maxwell General Sir John Maxwell is in charge of British is in charge of British troops in Ireland:troops in Ireland:I am going to ensure that I am going to ensure that there will be no treason there will be no treason whispered here for a whispered here for a hundred yearshundred years121 people were tried by 121 people were tried by the courts martial; 90 the courts martial; 90 were sentenced to death; were sentenced to death; 16 executions carried out 16 executions carried out over the course of a weekover the course of a week1,900 arrested and jailed 1,900 arrested and jailed in Britain without trialin Britain without trial

Brutal executions stun the Brutal executions stun the publicpublic

Public opinion begins to Public opinion begins to shift dramatically in shift dramatically in support of the rebels; their support of the rebels; their deaths ultimately give deaths ultimately give strength to their movement strength to their movement and they are popularly and they are popularly seen as martyrsseen as martyrs

Easter, 1916 (WB Yeats, 4th stanza)

Too long a sacrificeCan make a stone of the heart.O when may it suffice?That is Heaven's part, our partTo murmur name upon name,As a mother names her childWhen sleep at last has comeOn limbs that had run wild.What is it but nightfall?No, no, not night but death;Was it needless death after all?For England may keep faithFor all that is done and said.We know their dream; enoughTo know they dreamed and are dead;And what if excess of loveBewildered them till they died?I write it out in a verse -MacDonagh and MacBrideAnd Connolly and PearseNow and in time to be,Wherever green is worn,Are changed, changed utterly:A terrible beauty is born.

So, who’s left standing?So, who’s left standing?

Eamon DeValera

•Leader of Sinn Fein

•Political/public face of movement

Michael Collins

•Clandestine force behind the republican movement

•Planned and prepared for violent confrontation with UK military and police forces

The Aftermath of WWIThe Aftermath of WWI

Trying to gain U.S. support in Trying to gain U.S. support in WWI, Asquith tries to WWI, Asquith tries to implement home rule bill before implement home rule bill before war’s end; Redmond refuses war’s end; Redmond refuses because bill allows for Ulster because bill allows for Ulster (N. Ireland) to opt out(N. Ireland) to opt outSinn Fein (“We Ourselves”) Sinn Fein (“We Ourselves”) rises to dominant party status rises to dominant party status on republican platformon republican platformDec. 1918: 73 of 105 Irish MP’s Dec. 1918: 73 of 105 Irish MP’s are Sinn Fein– refuse to take are Sinn Fein– refuse to take their seats in parliamenttheir seats in parliament

““The Troubles”The Troubles”

Michael Collins organizes an IRA squad of hand-Michael Collins organizes an IRA squad of hand-picked gunman entrusted with the killing of picked gunman entrusted with the killing of police agents, informers, and detectivespolice agents, informers, and detectives

January 1919: “The Troubles” beginJanuary 1919: “The Troubles” begin

November 1919: “Bloody Sunday”November 1919: “Bloody Sunday”– Collins’s squad murders 12 undercover British Collins’s squad murders 12 undercover British

intelligence officersintelligence officers– In response, British troops fire on crowd at all-Ireland In response, British troops fire on crowd at all-Ireland

football matchfootball match

Troubles last until truce is called between Troubles last until truce is called between IRA and England’s P. M. Lloyd George’s IRA and England’s P. M. Lloyd George’s government in July 1921government in July 1921

Over 1,500 people killed Over 1,500 people killed

Treaty offer from DLG contains partition Treaty offer from DLG contains partition of Ireland, requires oath of allegiance to of Ireland, requires oath of allegiance to Crown Crown

Lloyd George forces them to sign by Lloyd George forces them to sign by saying that he will declare war on Ireland saying that he will declare war on Ireland in 3 days if they don’tin 3 days if they don’t

David Lloyd George

Collins: Think, what have I got for Ireland? Something she has wanted these past seven hundred years. Will anyone be satisfied at the bargain? Will anyone? I tell you this: early this morning I signed my death warrant.

The Anglo-Irish TreatyThe Anglo-Irish Treaty

Most nationalist groups in IRE split over the Most nationalist groups in IRE split over the treatytreatyUltimately ratified in the Dail (unrecognized Ultimately ratified in the Dail (unrecognized political body) by a narrow margin in January political body) by a narrow margin in January 19221922DeValera is against ratification; resigns as head DeValera is against ratification; resigns as head of the dailof the dailMost Irishmen approve of the treaty as an end to Most Irishmen approve of the treaty as an end to the bloodshed; see the establishment of the Irish the bloodshed; see the establishment of the Irish Free State as a stepping stone to republicFree State as a stepping stone to republic

The Civil WarThe Civil War

IRA sees treaty as IRA sees treaty as betrayal of republican betrayal of republican idealsideals

John Lynch becomes John Lynch becomes new head of the IRAnew head of the IRA

Extremist splinter group Extremist splinter group of IRA takes over Four of IRA takes over Four Courts in Dublin; Collins Courts in Dublin; Collins has to use National has to use National Army to attack them in Army to attack them in June 1922June 1922 Four Courts under fire of National Army

August 22, 1922: Collins tries to meet with August 22, 1922: Collins tries to meet with Lynch and put an end to fighting, but he’s Lynch and put an end to fighting, but he’s ambushed and assassinated en routeambushed and assassinated en route

Half a million people lined the streets for the funeral of Michael Collins

Under the terms of the treaty, Parliament Under the terms of the treaty, Parliament established for Irish Free Stateestablished for Irish Free State

Sinn Fein was (and is) the political arm of Sinn Fein was (and is) the political arm of the IRA; they continue to support the dail, of the IRA; they continue to support the dail, of which they make DeValera the Presidentwhich they make DeValera the President

Essentially two competing governing bodies Essentially two competing governing bodies in Ireland in Ireland By April 1923, the IRA has By April 1923, the IRA has been defeated because has been defeated because has little support outside own little support outside own ranksranksFree State continues to arrest Free State continues to arrest those suspected of IRA those suspected of IRA membershipmembership– over 11,000 – over 11,000 jailed jailed

Pro-treaty troops in Dublin, 1922

1926 1926 DeValera splits with Sinn Fein DeValera splits with Sinn Fein and and agrees to accept a seat in Parliamentagrees to accept a seat in Parliament

1932 his Fianna Fail party assumes 1932 his Fianna Fail party assumes control of the government for the first timecontrol of the government for the first time

1937 DeValera introduces a new 1937 DeValera introduces a new constitution, which is still in effect today. constitution, which is still in effect today. Established Eire or Ireland as a republic; Established Eire or Ireland as a republic; claims Northern Ireland as rightful part of claims Northern Ireland as rightful part of territory, but pending reunification laws territory, but pending reunification laws only apply in the southonly apply in the south