Ireland 1900-1914

Question 1

Nationalists

Answer 1

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

Question 2

The IRB

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Act of Union 1801

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Unionists

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Cultural nationalists

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Anglicisation

Answer 6

Spreading of English culture i.e. language, games, customs.

Question 7

GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association)

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Gaelic League

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Larkin and the ITGWU (the lockout in 1913)

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Lockout in 1913

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

House of commons main parties

Answer 11

The Liberal Party

The Conservatives (tories)

Question 12

The Liberal Party

Answer 12

Led by Herbert Asquith
Lukewarm about Home Rule
Did not need the support of the Home Rule party

Question 13

The Conservatives (tories)

Answer 13

Led by Andrew Bonar Law

Supported the unionists and were against Home Rule

Question 14

The Home Rule crisis in 1912-1914

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Parliament Act 1911

Answer 15

The Third Home Rule Bill, which was passed in the House of Commons in 1912, would become law in 1914.

Question 16

How Ireland reacted to the Parliament Act 1911

Answer 16

Nationalists - delighted that they were getting Home Rule

Unionists - appalled

Question 17

Unionist reaction to Parliament Act

Answer 17

Organised demonstrations

Set up the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVD) to train men to resist (Home Rule) through force

Question 18

Nationalist reaction to Parliament Act 1911

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Threat of Civil War

Answer 19

Ireland now had two armed forces, therefore there was a real threat of Civil War

Question 20

World War 1 begins

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

England’s difficulty is Ireland’s opportunity

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Casement goes to Germany

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Misleading MacNeill

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Setbacks

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

The Rising

Answer 25

Patrick Pearse felt only an Irish republic would ensure survival of Irish language.

He was leader of Rising.

Sunday morning - leaders of rebellion met. Knew that there was no hope of success but were influenced by blood sacrifice ideal.

Easter Monday, 24 April 1916, Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army seized key buildings around Dublin, including GPO, Four Courts, Boland’s Mills, College of Surgeons.

GPO - Headquarters of Rising

Pearse read Proclamation of the Irish Republic

British caught by surprise

Friday, Pearse ordered evacuation of GPO because it was on fire.

Saturday, Pearse ordered volunteers to surrender.

Question 26

Blood Sacrifice

Answer 26

Pearse hoped his death would inspire Irish to fight for independence.

Question 27

Results of the Rising

Answer 27

Approx 500 killed, 2,500 injured
People angry about rising because of food shortages, damage to city, loss of work civilians killed and some believed it was disrespectful to Irish fighting in World War 1
Britain imposed Martial Law (military law)
British Government executed fifteen people
Sympathy grew all over Ireland and abroad for executed and most believed they were unfairly executed
Media labelled Rising ‘the Sinn Féin Rising’ although Sinn Féin had not been involved.
As reault, Sinn Féin became more popular

Question 28

Rise of Sinn Féin

Answer 28

Arthur Griffith set up Sinn Féin in 1905
Wanted to win more independence than Home Rule would give
Wanted Irish MOs to withdraw from Westminster and establish government in Dublin
By 1917 Home Rule was no longer seen as enough.
Party also grew stronger with release of those interned.

Question 29

aims of sinn féin

Answer 29

to set up a republic, completely independent of Britain

to set up a parliament in Dublin called the Dáil, independent of Westminster

Question 30

Support for Sinn Féin was further boosted

Answer 30

British were planning to introduce conscription into Ireland - all Irish parties were against it but Sinn Féin got the credit when plan was dropped.
British arrested Sinn Féin leaders such as de Valera and Griffith
Sinn Féin won four by-elections

Question 31

1918 General Election

Answer 31

British PM, Lloyd George called general election in 1918
Change in franchise
Young people and women were voting for first time
Favoured Sinn Féin as it was seen as a young and dynamic party
Sinn Féin became voice of Nationalist Ireland
Unionists also gained

Question 32

The First Dáil

Answer 32

21st January 1919 - Dáil met for first time
Declared Ireland as republic
27 TDs present
2nd meeting - De Valera became president of Dáil
Arthur Griffith - Vice-President
Cathal Brugha - Minister for defense
Michael Collins - Minister for finance
Countess Markievicz - minister for labour

Question 33

De Valera goes to America

Answer 33

Eamon de Valera went to America to persuade the American government to recognise the Irish Republic
He failed, but managed to raise $4 million for fight for independence
Collins organised a loan of £350,000
This paid for weapons and cost of running alternative government
Sinn Féin courts set up to replace British courts
Many local councils switched support to the Dáil