Events of the Irish Civil War 1922-'23

Question 1

How did Churchill push Collins into asserting his authority over Four Courts?

Answer 1

By threatening that if the Provisional Government didn’t, the British Army would

Question 2

When did Free State troops attack Four Courts?

Answer 2

28 June 1922

Question 3

What were the pro-Treaty forces called

Answer 3

Regulars or Free State Troops

Question 4

What were anti-treaty forces called

Answer 4

Irregulars

Question 5

The Irregulars abandoned key towns early, but remained strong in — and —-

Answer 5

Cork and Limerick

Question 6

How many Free State troops were there in August 1922

Answer 6

14 000

Question 7

What were one of the reasons for Regulars troops recruitment soaring

Answer 7

high unemployment

Question 8

The anti-treaty side lost valuable time in what time period

Answer 8

The 6mts between the ratification of the Treaty Jan 1922 and the outbreak of open hostilities end June 1922

Question 9

While the PG prepared for the coming conflict, what did the Irregulars waste time doing

Answer 9

appealing for unity

Question 10

The clear lack of aggression from the Irregulars had a demoralising effect on them. Which historian said that “No army acting purely on the defensive can hope to succeed.”

Answer 10

Neeson

Question 11

Despite being difficult to defend, how many irregulars occupied the Four Courts

Answer 11

200

Question 12

Why were anti-treaty operations directed largely by the whim and convenience of local commanders without reference to an overall plan

Answer 12

Communication was bad. Commanders were instructed by HQ to operate within their own territories, thus without the intricate and continuous communication essential in modern warfare

Question 13

When was the Special Powers Act passed by the Daíl

Answer 13

September 1922

Question 14

What did the Special Powers Act do

Answer 14

sanctioned the execution of prisoners in reprisals for Irregulars attacks, such as assassination Sean Hales

Question 15

By July 1922, Collins takeover of command of the Free state Army and its success in —– proved pivotal

Answer 15

Munster

Question 16

When did Griffith die

Answer 16

12 Aug 1922

Question 17

When did Collins die

Answer 17

22 Aug 1922

Question 18

Who filled the political role PG after Griffith dies

Answer 18

Cosgrave and O’Higgins

Question 19

Who filled the role or army commander after Collins dies

Answer 19

Mulcahy

Question 20

The number of Free State troops reached

Answer 20

60 000

Question 21

Where were Regulars able to borrow war materials from

Answer 21

British Garrisons remaining in Ireland

Question 22

Give two examples where the Regulars used combined sea and land attacks

Answer 22

Tralee and Cork

Question 23

When was the ‘Public Safety Resolution’ by Mulcahy sanctioned

Answer 23

28 Sep 1922

Question 24

What did the ‘Public Safety Resolution’ do

Answer 24

enabled the Free State army to hold military courts and impose the death penalty for a wider variety of offences, incl possession of a weapon

Question 25

In total, how many Anti-Treaty IRA men did the Free State execute

Answer 25

77

Question 26

Name 3 leading Anti-Treaty IRA men that the Regulars executed

Answer 26

Erskine Childers, Liam Mellows and Rory O’Connor

Question 27

When was Childers executed

Answer 27

24 Nov 1922

Question 28

How was Childers executed

Answer 28

He was summoned from South by Irregulars to work in new govt w/ DeV president and himself as Minister of Publicity, but was captured 10 Nov in possession of a weapon so executed

Question 29

Who was the chief of staff of the Anti-treaty forces

Answer 29

Liam Lynch

Question 30

Who led the more extreme faction of the Anti-treaty forces

Answer 30

Rory O’Connor

Question 31

When was the Anti-Treaty forces meeting at which a majority supported a motion by Tom Barry to declare war on Britain

Answer 31

18 June 1922

Question 32

Give 3 prominent examples of people who opposed Tom Barry’s motion to declare war on Britain

Answer 32

Lynch, Deasy and Seán Moylan

Question 33

Give 2 prominent examples of people who supported Tom Barry’s motion to declare war on Britain

Answer 33

O’Connor and Mellows

Question 34

Who did the extreme elements of the Anti-Treaty forces elect as their chief of staff

Answer 34

Joe McKelvey

Question 35

When did DeValera and Mulcahy have their fruitless discussions

Answer 35

6 September 1922

Question 36

When was a government formed on the Anti-treaty side under De Valera

Answer 36

25 Oct 1922

Question 37

The Anti Treaty Government’s —— was a powerless body

Answer 37

Council of State

Question 38

Even when the Irregulars had formed a govt, De Valera could do little more than —-

Answer 38

issue statements on anti-treaty policy from time to time

Question 39

Despite the Anti-treaty govt being formed, absolute control of anti-treaty policy remained with —

Answer 39

the army council

Question 40

How did Lynch view De Valera

Answer 40

as a tiresome civilian representative

Question 41

What event caused De Valera’s plea to end the Irregulars’ campaign to be heeded

Answer 41

the death of Lynch

Question 42

Who replaced Lynch as Chief of Staff

Answer 42

Frank Aiken

Question 43

When did the Anti-treaty forces suspend their campaign

Answer 43

24 May 1923

Question 44

What was the benefit of the Pro-Treaty forces having the PG

Answer 44

provided a clear, concrete centre around which its supporters could rally and also which could take responsibility for the actions of its armed forces

Question 45

What were the results of the treaty election of June 1922

Answer 45

Pro treatyites won 239 193 votes
Anti treatyites won 133 864 votes

Question 46

Were the majority of Irish people pro or anti treaty

Answer 46

Pro treaty

Question 47

The Irregulars campaign brought the wheels of —- and —— to a standstill

Answer 47

trade and commerce

Question 48

Give an example of economic hardship in Munster resulting from Civil war

Answer 48

In Munster, unemployment, which had already been high, rose rapidly. Workers and office staff were dismissed form their employment with production and distribution coming to a halt

Question 49

People heard of boom conditions in —–

Answer 49

Dublin

Question 50

People heard of revival, and often expansion due to military contracts, in places that had changed hands from anti- to pro-treaty forces such as in —– and ——

Answer 50

Waterford and Limerick

Question 51

Where was an attempt by the Irregulars to levy income tax from merchants met with open resistance

Answer 51

Cork

Question 52

A loss of how much occurred in the butter trade due to disruption in trading

Answer 52

£1 million

Question 53

What % of Cork became unemployed

Answer 53

40%

Question 54

Civilians were commandeered by Irregulars for manual labour such as —-

Answer 54

road blocking

Question 55

PG had support of important sections of the community such as (give 4 eggs)

Answer 55

finance, trade, the press and, critically, the Roman Catholic Church

Question 56

When did Bishops from the RCC solemnly condemn Anti-Treaty forces for setting up their army executive and opposing PG

Answer 56

April 1922

Question 57

When did bishops accuse Irregulars of causing the ruination of the country and order the general excommunication of Irregulars who continued to fight on

Answer 57

October 1922

Question 58

Which historian said “Pro-Treaty troops almost became crusaders.”

Answer 58

Neeson

Question 59

Even when the Civil war was over, Republican forces refused to what

Answer 59

• recognise the legitimacy of the state
• hand over weapons

Question 60

Where was Collins ambushed and killed

Answer 60

West Cork