Ireland 1916-23 Struggle For Independence Flashcards
Preparations for the Rising
Home Rule was on hold. The IRB thought “Britain’s difficulty is Irelands opportunity.
Miltary council established
Sir Rodger Casement brought ammo from Germany
James Connolly + Irish Citizen Army recruited
Irish volenteers tricked into joining
Members of the military council
Thomas Clarke
Seán Mac Diarmada
Pádraig Pearse
Joseph Plunkett
Éamonn Ceannt
Thomas McDonagh
Rising - Plans go wrong
Sír Rodger Casement + arms captured castle document forgery revealed
Rising goes ahead
Rising goes ahead
Rising went ahead because British wouldn’t expect it. Bank Holiday meant less soldiers. Rising was confined to the capital.
Pearse read the proclamation of the Irish Republic outside the GPO
The Rising - rebel occupies locations
GPO
Bolands Mill
Jacobs Factory
4 courts
South Dublin Union
Medincity Institution
Stephen’s Green
Royal College of Surgeons
Britain’s response
Extra soldiers brought in from the Curragh Barracks. On Wednesday the Helga came up the liffey + shelled the GPO
Mount Street Bridge, 13 rebels held up 1,750 soldiers for hours + killed/wounded 231
There were high civilian deaths so on Sat Elizabeth O’Farrell delivered Pearse’s surrender
Why the Rising failed
Small no. of fighters w/ poor weapons/ammo
Confusion leading to the rising
British had better resources
Rebels based in easily surroundable positions
Civilians didn’t realise the significance
It wasnt the countrywide rebellion intended
Consequences of the rising
500 dead, 2,500 injured
Damage to buildings to buildings + property
3,000 people sent to British prisons
90 leaders of the Rising were killed
Rise of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin was given credit for the Rising
People were angered by the executions + didn’t think Home Rule was enough
Sinn Féin changed its aim to international recognition of an independent ROI
Éamon de Valera (only surviving member of the military council) took over Sinn Féin
German plot
The 1st Dáil
In 1918 Sinn Féin decided to abstain from Westminster+form the Dáil
The Dáil was founded in the Mansion House, Dawson St on 21/1/1918
It was named Dáil Éireann + issuded a Declaration of Independence
Sinn Féin’s changes
Gained control of local government
Fodned Dáil courts
Organised loans
Rejected Government of Ireland Act
Outbreak of the war of independence
Began 21/1/1919 (day of the 1st Dáil)
2 RIC constables killed by Irish volenteers
Irish Volenteers became the IRA + Irelands official army
War of independence - IRA methods
The IRA used guerrilla warfare.
Michael Collins made an intelligence organisation of spies called the ‘squad’ to kill British spies + detectives
Local until called flying Collins took part in large scale ambushes, raided police stations.
War of independence - British methods
Established Black + Tans - early 1920
Recruited ruthless ex-army member called auxiliaries
Terrible reprisals committed by Black and tans + auxiliaries. This increased support for the IRA
Key events of the war of independence
20/3/1920:British kill lord mayor of Cork
25/10/1920:New Lord mayor died after 74 days in hunger strike
1/11/1920:18-year-old killed for role in Dublin ambush on British soldier
21/11/1920:Squad killed 13 British intelligence officers. In response, auxiliaries commit Bloody Sunday
28/11/1920: West Cork brigade kill 18 auxiliaries, auxiliaries burned Cork City Centre in response
End of the War of independence
War was costing Britain £20 million/year + Ireland was running out of ammo
Truce began 11/7/21 + negotiations began
Ireland wanted complete independence + no partition
Britain wanted to keep Ireland + protect Unionists
War of Independence - Irish Truce negotiators
Arthur Griffith + Michael Collins
War of independence - British Truce negotiators
Churchill + Chamberlain
(experienced)
Anglo-Irish treaty terms
Ireland would be a dominion + called Irish Free State
There would be a King’s rep + TDs had to swear an oath to the Crown
Britain would keep 3 ports + NI
A boundary commission would set up a border
Irish Civil War - Pro Treaty
Free State army/Regulars - Collins
War was too expensive
Treaty could be improved upon
Better than Home Rule
Immediate peace with Britain
Irish Civil War - Anti Treaty
Irregulars - De Valera
Didn’t get the Republic they fought + died for
Should’ve gotten better terms
TDs shouldn’t swear an oath to the Crown
Partition was bad
Irish Civil War - Key events
War began 28/6/1922 when Michael Collins shelled the 4 courts which were occupied by the irregulars
Griffith + Collins both died in Aug 1922 + were grieved by both sides
End of the civil war
Special Powers Act made the IRA illegal
The ceasefire was agreed on 24th May 1923
Legacy of the civil war
Death + property damage
Divided country
Political developments - constitution, Oireachtas, an Garda síochána
Boundary commission
Fine Gael (pro-treaty) + Fine Fáil (anti-treaty)
Establishment of NI
Set up under Government of Ireland Act
Parliament = Stormont
Nationalists refused to take their seats so it was a Unionist only gov
Sectarianism in NI
Orange Order parades + rallies
Mostly Protestant RUC + B - Specials - anti catholic bias + violence
Gerrymandering
Guerilla warfare
A tactic involving ambushes and
hit-and-run methods
Gerrymandering
Rearranging voting districts to benefit 1 party, which prevented Catholics from having any say
