Ireland 1900-1914 Flashcards
Nationalists
Majority of Irish Catholics were nationalists
Wanted Home Rules with own parliament in Dublin to govern local affairs like education and health
Felt Ireland was being ruled badly by Westminster
Home Rule Party represented Nationalists
Leader was John Redmund, they had 80MPs at Westminster
The IRB
Small minority of Nationalists wanted a republic
These extreme Nationalists belonged to the Irish Republic Brotherhood
Secret society that wanted to fain independence through violent means
Thomas Clarke and Seán McDermott were the leaders
Act of Union 1801
Meant that Ireland was a part of United Kingdom
Ireland, Scotland, England & Wales ruled from Westminster Parliament
Ireland - 105 MPs in Westminster
Viceroy represented the king in Ireland
Unionists
Most protestants were unionists
small minority expect for north-east of Ulster
Did not want Home Rule - ‘Home Rule is Rome Rule’
Believed that Dublin parliament would ruin their economic prosperity - wanted to keep free access to British market
Leaders: Edward Carson + James Craig
20MPs in Westminster
Cultural nationalists
New type of nationalist emerged in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
Felt Ireland should have own government bc it had a differenr culture to Britain
Worried about Anglicisation as it would decrease the difference in culture and so they would not have right to rule themselves
Set up movements to encourage Irish culture
Anglicisation
Spreading of English culture i.e. language, games, customs.
GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association)
1884 - Michael Cusack set up GAA in Thurles
Aims: to increase numbers of people playing hurling and Gaelic footaball, to draw up rules for the game, to organise competitions.
Clubs established in almost every parish
First All-Ireland played in 1887. Made people proud of their parish.
First experience in running a democratic organisation. Most successful cultural movement.
Gaelic League
Started in 1893 by Eoin MacNeill & Douglas Hyde
Main aim: to stop Irish language decline
Promoted Irish by: Irish language newspaper An Claidheamh Solais (sword of ligh), training teachers called timiri that went all over Ireland teaching Irish, encouraging Irish dancing and music
Slowed down decline of Irish language
Larkin and the ITGWU (the lockout in 1913)
Many workers and cities were poorly paid
Jim Larkin set up a trade union called the ITGWU (Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union)
Its aim was to fight for better wages and working conditions.
Lockout in 1913
Success of the Union worried employerx
They decided to destroy the ITGWU by telling their workers they had to leave their union or lose their jobs.
In August 13, Larkin called the workers out on strike.
Employers hit back by locking out workers until they left the union.
Lockout lasted five months. Union was defeated. Workers left union and returned to work.
House of commons main parties
The Liberal Party
The Conservatives (tories)
The Liberal Party
Led by Herbert Asquith
Lukewarm about Home Rule
Did not need the support of the Home Rule party
The Conservatives (tories)
Led by Andrew Bonar Law
Supported the unionists and were against Home Rule
The Home Rule crisis in 1912-1914
Asquith called a general election to increase taxes on the rich.
This election meant that the Liberal Party needed the support of the Home Rule Party.
Redmond demanded Home Rule for his support.
Parliament Act 1911
The Third Home Rule Bill, which was passed in the House of Commons in 1912, would become law in 1914.
How Ireland reacted to the Parliament Act 1911
Nationalists - delighted that they were getting Home Rule
Unionists - appalled
Unionist reaction to Parliament Act
Organised demonstrations
Set up the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVD) to train men to resist (Home Rule) through force
Nationalist reaction to Parliament Act 1911
1913 - Formed the Irish Volunteers, led by Eoin MacNeill
Many of the leaders of the Volunteers were also in the IRB
They hoped to use the Volunteers in a fight for total independence
Threat of Civil War
Ireland now had two armed forces, therefore there was a real threat of Civil War
World War 1 begins
August 1914 -World War 1 began, Home rule postponed
Ulster Unionists joined British army to show loyalty
Redmond asked Irish Volunteers to join British army
Caused a split in Volunteers. 170,000 Volunteers agreed with Redmond known as National Volunteers.
11,000 Volunteers led by MacNeill disagreed. Wanted to stay in Ireland to ensure British gov, would not break promise.
England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity
The IRB saw this as an opportunity to rebel and win independence.
Military Council was set up in 1915 59 plan the Rising
Members: Patrick Pearse, Thomas Clarke, Eamon Ceannt
James Connolly was invited to join council. He wanted to overthrow British Empire and set up a socialist republic in Ireland.
Casement goes to Germany
Roger Casement went to Germany to buy guns and ammunition. Rising was planned for Easter Sunday 23 April.
The ship called the Aud, which was carrying the arms arrived off Tralee on Thursday 20 April. It was captured by British navy.
Misleading MacNeill
IRB needed support of 11,000 strong Irish Volunteers.
Joseph Plunkett forged a document (called Castle Document) which stated that the gov was going to arrest leaders of the Volunteers.
MacNeill told Volunteers to get ready to resist.
Setbacks
MacNeill found out on Easter Sunday that Aud has been captured.
He also discovered Castle Document was a forgery.
He cancelled plans for fighting.
Ended any hope of a countrywide Rising.
