9) WW1 Political Impact 1914-16 Flashcards
What was Sir Edward Grey’s (Foreign Secretary) comment and what did it signify about the situation in Ireland (2)
- He made the announcement in the House of Commons in August 1914 which warned that Britain was preparing for war with Germany.
- He described Ireland as “the one bright spot in this very dreadful situation” which was a reference to the truce which the deteriorating international situation had forced on the respective party leaders
Why did Redmond support the British by offering to use the IVF to defend Ireland? (3)
- He wanted to protect and aid Belgium, which was a Roman Catholic country currently being threatened by Germany
- with Britain on the verge of doing justice for Ireland, it would be essential to support the war
- thought it would heal divisions
Why did Asquith still not give Home Rule, despite Redmond’s pledge of support (2)
- Carson and Bonar Law were insisting that the status quo be maintained and they painted a bleak picture of the effect any brash move by Asquith would have on the new spirit of cross-party co-operation fostered by the European conflict
- Asquith wait and see Policy; didn’t want to anger unionists and cause a civil war in Ireland so Britain would have to fight on two fronts
What did Craig and Carson offer Kitchener? Why did they do this ? (3)
- They offered to provide at least a division of trained men from the UVF for the British Army
- This offered the UVF better training and meant that they were better armed and prepared if a civil war came
- also an opportunity to show loyalty
Was the 36th Ulster Division solely Protestant and from the North
The Division was based on members of the UVF, though it was neither exclusively Protestant nor was it recruited solely in Ulster
Redmond initially refused to allow the IVF to be used as frontline troops, but rather as Home defence, but why did he change his mind? (2)
- Redmond’s thinking had been influenced by Carson’s appeal to the ulster volunteers to enlist for service overseas and he was keen to match his commitment
- His gratitude to the liberal government for putting HR on the statue book also changed his mind
How did Bonar Law and other unionists react to the home Rule Bill being out on the statue block ? (2)
- Carson and BL could hardly contain their anger
- BL replied bitterly in a speech that unionists had been abandoned but there was no massive demonstration
What was the effect of the Woodenbridge Speech on the IVF? (5)
- By appealing for Volunteers to serve not only in Ireland but wherever freedom and religion needed fought for, this split the IVF
- the small number of IRB men, Sinn Féiners and other advanced Nationalists within the Volunteers initially objected to Redmond’s earlier offer
- Howveer, of the Volunteers 170,000 members, all but 12,000 remained loyal to Redmond
- when local volunteer unites voted on the issue, Redmond received overwhelming support for his Woodenbridge stance
- around 160,000 took the name ‘National Volunteers’ while the much smaller group under MacNeill continued as ‘Irish Volunteers’
What was the old fenian maxim?
‘England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity’
Why did men join up in WW1?
The bulk of recruits came from working class families and the prospect of adventure, a break from the drudgery of city life and a decent wage were all powerful incentives for unskilled workers in Dublin
What was the economic impact of the war on Ireland ? (4)
- in Dublin, many of the distilleries were forced to closed and even Guiness moved to half time working
- In rural Ireland, the war brought immediate and significant economic gains
- The increase demand for Irish produce and the consequent rise in agricultural prices encouraged Irish farmers to switch to more intensive farming practises
- This enabled farmers to employ their younger sons at home
