Issue 1: The growth of tension in Ireland before 1914 Flashcards
Introduction
Background:
- The outstanding issues in Ireland before 1914 were religion, land and politics, underpinned by language and racial differences and, significantly, poverty. (B1)
- A liberal prime minister, William Gladstone, had listened to concerns pit to parliament in the 1880s by a group of Irish Nationalist MP’s- led by Charles Parnell. The Key demand was for Home Rule in Ireland. Gladstone put forward a Home rule Bill, but it was voted down by MPs. (B2)
Outline your factors:
- Irish cultural revival
- The re-emergence of Irish Republicanism
- Economic and Religious Features in the North
- John Redmond and the Nationalist Party (1910 elections)
- Responses of Unionists and Nationalists to HRB
outline argument
Factor 1: Irish cultural revival
KU- In 1884, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was set up “for the preservation and cultivation of our national pastimes”. Uniquely Irish sports and games like Gaelic football and hurling began to build in popularity.
Analysis- This led to a growth in tension in Ireland as Unionists didn’t want to bring back Irish culture as they’d rather celebrate British culture.
KU- In 1893, the Gaelic League was also set up by Douglas Hyde and Eoin MacNeill, whose aim was to revive and preserve Gaelic Literature. It’s purpose was to promote the Gaelic Irish Language.
Analysis- This led to growth of tension although even though both Hyde and MacNeill were both Nationalist in their views, they were also both Protestant, which shows that religion was not yet the over-riding factor in the growth of Irish nationalism.
Analysis+ - However, although both organisations were causes for growing tension, they were both extremely successful, attracting thousands of members, they instituted what is now referred to as the “Gaelic Revival” in Ireland.
Evaluation:
The Irish Cultural revival played a part in the growth of tension in Ireland, but definitely didn’t make the biggest impact as it was only an act of keeping traditions and culture alive.
Factor 2- The Re-emergence of Irish Republicanism
KU- A republican group called the Irish Republican Brotherhood was revived from 1900 and led by Thomas Clarke. The group recruited young men in Dublin and other main cities for the movement, which was planning a future rebellion against British Rule.
Analysis- The IRB was prepared to use force to achieve its objectives, which caused a lot of tension.
Analysis+ - However, Clarke ran an organisation known as “fenians”, and this group had been involved in a failed rebellion against British Rule in 1867, which showed that clarke’s organising skills were not the best.
KU- A further concern was the setting up of Sinn Fein by Arthur Griffith in 1904 to boycott all things British and for the Irish to set up their own parliament in Ireland. It was an unashamedly Republican party and was strongly opposed to Home Rule.
Analysis- This led to a growth of tension in Ireland as just like the IRB, Sinn Fein we’re not afraid to use force to achieve their objectives.
Evaluation:
The Re-emergence of Irish republicanism definitely played a huge party in the growth of tension in Ireland up to 1914, as IRB and Sinn Fein were threatening to use force.
Factor 3: Economic and Religious Features in the North
KU- Ulster, in the North, was mainly Protestant and feared that a government led from Dublin would see the imposition of laws on Northern Ireland based on Catholic faith, which they were opposed to.
Analysis- This led to a growth of tension as although religious divides were not unique to Ulster, they were most marked there.
KU- In march 1914, the Liberal Government introduced a new scheme, hoping to prevent a civil war. The “County Option Scheme”, would allow each county in Ireland to vote on whether or not to join Home Rule.
Analysis- This led to growth in tension as Unionists didn’t like this scheme as they wanted no counties to have Home rule.
Analysis+ - However, the scheme allowed that if a county voted “no” then it would be outside Home Rule for at least six years.
Evaluation:
Economic and Religious features in the North were a big part of growth of tension but definitely didn’t play the biggest part as Religious differences was pretty common.
Factor 4: John Redmond and the Nationalist Party (1910 elections)
KU- After the failure to take forward any steps towards Home Rule, two 1910 elections were held, with the liberals hoping to gain a big victory. In order to pass a new law that would restrict power of the House of Lords, the Liberals had to work with the Irish Nationalist MP, who’s 84 votes they needed, and the price of this support was a Home Rule Bill.
Analysis- This didn’t lead to growth in tension in Ireland as no promise of a Home Rule bill was yet set in stone.
KU- With the support of John redmond, the leader of the Irish Nationalists, a new law was passed to reduce the power of the house of lords, from being able to block a bill to only being able to hold up the passing of a bill for two years (the 1911 parliament act).
Analysis- This led to slightly more tension as it saw more of a chance of a Home rule bill being passed.
Analysis+ - However, when the bill was discussed, the Conservatives campaigned to split the North from the rest of the Island, which would result in a potentially dangerous Ireland containing two competing national identities. They put this idea forward in hopes of Home rule not being introduced.
Evaluation:
John Redmond and the Nationalist Party, with the idea of home rule being put forward caused tension to start rising in Ireland.
Factor 5- Responses of Unionists and Nationalists to HRB
KU- In Belfast, tensions were high over the home rule bill and rioting kept breaking out between the Catholic and Protestant residents of the City. On the 28th September 1912, Sid James Craig introduced the “Ulster Covenant”, which people could sign to pledge their determination to defeat the home rule bill. It was a huge success and over 200’000 people signed it. Also in January 1913, the UVF was formed as a back up military force to make certain Ulster was left out of Home Rule.
Analysis- This caused a lot of tension in Ireland as the police in these areas didn’t try to stop the UVF, so Nationalists felt that the police were in league with the UVF.
Analysis+ - The setting up of the UVF was an example of the willingness to use violence to further the cause of those opposed to Home Rule and an indication of the extent in the breakdown of peace in Ireland.
KU- Nationalists were also keen to show that they too were prepared to fight to achieve their aims. The Irish Volunteer Force (IVF) was set up in November 1913. Members from the Gaelic League, the GAA, Sinn Fein and the IRB all joined. By May 1914 it had over 80’000 members, which was even more than the UVF.
Analysis- This led to a growth in tension because there was now two forces, against each other, both willing to use violence, which posed a great threat and potentially a threat of Civil War.
Evaluation:
Responses of Unionists and Nationalists to HRB was a massive part of growth of tension in Ireland as it was when violence was introduced into the situation, with the UVF and IVF both willing to use violence to get their ways.
Conclusion
- ATQ “In conclusion…”
- Provide relative judgements of at least 2 factors. Give a balanced assessment (A/A+)
- Give your judgement “overall”
