Issue 3: The anglo Irish Treaty and obstacles to peace in Ireland

Question 1

IRA tactics and policies

Answer 1

Key factual Content:
•The IRA campaign used guerrilla tactics
Role of Michael Collins.
•Intimidation of local communities into not supporting the British forces.
•Attacks on British troops and G-men, attempted assassination of Lord French (Viceroy).
•Flying columns.

Analysis:
•British forces found these increasingly frustrating to contend with, and this ramped up the violence and bitterness on both sides.
•Growing success of IRA led to growing confidence and less likelihood of compromise.
•IRA led by young men with ability, but increasingly violent.

Question 2

Irish attitudes to British rule after WW1

Answer 2

Key factual Content:
•Aftermath of the Easter Rising, and the anti-conscription campaign, led to a decline in support for the Nationalist Party and a huge growth in support for Sinn Fein.
•Development of Sin Fein through wartime imprisonment of leaders.
•Development of Sinn Fein through huge rise in membership.
•In the 1918 General Election Sinn Fein won 73 seats, none in 1910
•Arguments about election procedures.

Analysis:
•Control of the nationalist movement moved to the IRB and the IVF (would become IRA).
•Much more organised and popular than in 1914.
•IRA armed struggle against Britain (more chance of success with the support of the
majority of the population.

Question 3

The declaration of Independence and the establishment of the Dail.

Answer 3

Key factual Content:
•Republican MPs led by Sinn Fein, did not attend Westminster.
•Mansion House in Dublin - ‘Dail Eireann’, won wide popular support.
•De Valera, President of Ireland, Griffith Vice President and Collins Minister of Finance.
•Most local councils in Ireland, except in Ulster, recognised the rule of this new
assembly, paid taxes to it and accepted Sinn Fein law.
•The Dail worked using couriers carrying communications between those in hiding.
Law and order was maintained.

Analysis:
•The Dail had won over the support of the Catholic Church and professional classes.
•The Dail took power away from Britain to a considerable extent due to military activities.
•Despite illegality, the system appeared to work and be popular.

Question 4

The position of Unionists in the North

Answer 4

Key factual Content:
Ulster Unionists won an extra 10 seats and now had 26 seats in Westminster.
“Blood sacrifice” in the First World War (eg on the Somme).
•Edward Carson in Cabinet.
•Government of Ireland Act, 1920.

Analysis:
•Election result highlighted growing divide and more extreme views in Ireland making
partition increasingly likely.
•Important role of Carson in influencing government policy.
•Unionists expected wartime commitment to be reflected in any post-war settlement.

Question 5

The policies and actions of the British Government

Answer 5

Key factual Content:
•Property confiscations.
•Activities of RIC and Black and Tans (examples).
•Specific incidents in Cork (Lord Mayor killed, town raided).
•Croke Park killings.

Analysis:
•The violence used by British government agencies led to a drift to extremism.
•The importance of publicity - an area where UK government performed poorly.
•Policy of military force to secure Irish ‘obedience’ - high casualties hard to justify.