10) Causes Of The Rising Flashcards
Why was WW2 a good opportunity for rebellion and a potential cause of the Rising?
With the British fixing their attention on the war, this gave the IRB revolutionaries the ‘opportunity’ to strike a blow for Irish freedom when Britain was experiencing the greatest ‘difficulty’ in her history
Who was included in the British coalition government of May 1915
Although Asquith ensures that the liberals held all the key positions he also included Bonar Law and Carson in the multi-party government
Why did Redmond not join the coalition, despite the invitation of Asquith
To do so would have broken the IPPs tradition of independent parliamentary action
What was the consequence that of Redmond not joining the coalition
He wasn’t able to shape or influence the agenda
What did Moran and Lee think of Redmond not joining the coalition
While it won the backing of his supporters, Moran argued that Redmond had been mistaken in turning down the opportunity to use his influence in government
This was echoed by Professor Lee who argued that Redmond’s decision was inconsistent with his support for the war effort
How did the fear of conscription and Carson’s involvement in the coalition boost the IRB’s (separatists) cause (2)
- Carson’s inclusion in the wartime coalition gave further encouragement to the separatists who insisted that Redmond’s support for the war effort had diluted his nationalism
- the separatists were further boosted by the public’s fear of conscription which had been introduced in Britain in January 1916 as it increased anti-British feeling
How does Rees argue that Carsonism was a cause of the 1916 rebellion (3)
During the ulster crisis Carson had forced Redmond into a subordinate role and the tactics which he had used further polarised Irish politics
- In undermining Redmond and the IPP, Carson had also given a boost to radical nationalists, particularly to the old fenian tradition which was bound to the principle of using force to win Irish freedom
- the actions of Carson radicalised peaceful nationalists
What was New Nationalism?
New Nationalism was the romanticised vision of a free and Gaelic Ireland, which included the growth of the Gaelic League, which was a key organisation in the quest for cultural regeneration and brought a generation of young men to Nationalism and the language movement which often attracted young men who felt excluded by the established forces of constitutionalist Nationalism
Why did Douglas Hyde resign as the president of Gaelic League in 1915 (2)
- He believe that the movement should stay out of politics but it became increasingly more difficult to divorce the desire for cultural nationalism from the desire for politician freedom.
- By July 1915the constitution was amended to state that the Gaelic League should also “Devote itself to realising the ideal of a free Gaelic-speaking Ireland”
