Government Of Ireland Act 1920 Flashcards
State the key terms of the government of Ireland act
The most northern 6 counties would be united to form Northern Ireland
The rest of the 26 counties would unite to make the Irish Free State
Proportional representation would be used in elections to protect minorities
The local parliaments are given control over areas such as education, health and transport, while Westminster would be responsible for foreign policy military and taxation
A council of Ireland was formed to try and eventually reunify Ireland
Why did northern unionists react badly to the government of Ireland act?
They disliked certain parts, like:
The council of Ireland and its aim of eventually uniting Ireland under one parliament
The reduction of Ulster MPs at Westminster
The loosening of Ireland’s union with Britain, and potentially the weakening of the British empire
Why did northern unionists like the government of Ireland act?
They would still be part of the UK
They’d have their own parliament in Belfast, and wouldn’t have to join a catholic dominated all-Ireland parliament
They had a secure Protestant majority, and so could pass laws which suited them
They could eventually get rid of proportional representation to increase their political dominance
They feel it was the best they could get
What was the northern nationalist reaction to the government of Ireland act?
They were disappointed that Ireland did not become independent
They hated partition
They felt isolated in Protestant-dominated Northern Ireland
They were dismayed at the lack of safeguards for their position
What was the southern unionist reaction to the government of Ireland act?
They felt betrayed by both Britain and northern unionists as partition left them isolated in the IFS
They felt economically, politically and physically vulnerable
As a result, a major rift developed between northern and southern unionists
How did southern nationalists react to the government of Ireland act?
They were angered as:
There was a lack of independence
They hated partition
What did Sinn Fein do in protest against the government of Ireland act?
They won by a landslide victory in the home rule elections in May 1921, but they refused to attend the new Dublin parliament which was set up by the British government, and continued to meet as Dail Eireann illegally. They also continued absentionism at Westminster, and fought on against the Britain in the Anglo-Irish War
