Ireland - 1916 to 1923 Flashcards
When was the third Home Rule Act introduced and by who?
1912 and Asquith (Liberal) in the House of Commons
When and why was the third Home Rule Act suspended?
1914 due to the breakout of the First World War
Who was the leader of the Irish Nationalist Party?
John Redmond
Who were the main leaders of the Ulster Unionists?
Edward Carson and James Craig
Who was the leader of the ‘Irish Volunteers’ who opposed assisting the British in WW1?
Eoin MacNeill
How many members of the ‘Irish Volunteers’ was there by 1916?
10,000 members
When was the ‘Solemn League and Covenant signed?
September 1912 - ‘Covenant Day’
Half a million men and women signed it, some in their own blood. It proclaimed themselves loyal subjects who were against Home Rule in Ireland (Ulster).
Which Conservative leader supported the Ulster Unionists and was against Home Rule in Ireland?
Andrew Bonar Law - ‘If an attempt were made to deprive these (Ulster) men of their birthright, I can imagine no length of resistance to which Ulster can go in which I should not be prepared to support them’
What was Asquith’s slogan with the Irish Question?
‘Wait and see’ approach
How was the governments position weakened even further by 1914?
Curragh ‘Mutiny’ in March 1914 where military officials declared they’d rather be dismissed than carry out orders to breakup the Ulster Unionists
What was the Larne gun-running incident in April 1914?
The Ulster Volunteer force obtained 35,000 rifles and five million rounds of ammunition from Germany which defied the ban on importing arms. The government was left demoralised.
What major event happened in 1916?
The Easter Rising led by the ‘Irish Volunteers’
How did Sinn Fein benefit from the Easter uprising in 1916?
The Sinn Fein movement gained prestige at the expense of the Irish Parliamentary party
What happened on Easter Monday in 1916?
A small detachment of Irish Volunteers marched into central Dublin and seized control of the General Post Office. They declared the establishment of the Irish Republic. By nightfall most of the key buildings in the city off Dublin were in the hands of the rebels
How many people died and were wounded as a result the Easter uprising?
450 people died and 2600 wounded
How did the Easter Uprising come to an end?
The British authorities set the General Post Office ablaze and the rebel leaders were forced to flee and join their comrades in other parts of the city, where there was fierce fighting and much destruction of property.
Why was the Easter Rising in 1916 a failure for the Irish Volunteers?
- The rebellion was mostly confined to Dublin and most citizens indeed felt the rebels were simply traitors
- The rebels received no outside help and the rebels were greatly outnumbered by soldiers and armed police
What measures did the British take with the rebels who initiated the Easter Rising?
In May, 15 of the condemned - including seven signatories of the Easter Monday Proclamation - were tried and shot. James Connolly was unable to stand, so he was shot sitting in a chair.
What was the public reaction to the executions of the Easter Rising rebels?
The harshness of these measures, together with the reports of ill-treatment of prisoners, aroused horror and resentment among all classes of southern Ireland. This caused anti-British sentiments to in Ireland to harden.
