Laws & Treaties 1920-1925 Flashcards
Name the terms of the government of ireland act 1920
Island would be partitioned into NI and SI
NI would consist of 6 northern counties, SI the remaining 26
Each region have Home Rule Parliament to deal with local issues, e.g. education, health. Britain would look after major policies, e.g. foreign policy, military
Proportional representation used in elections to ensure minorities properly represented
Local parliaments responsible for some taxes, westminster control main taxes, e.g. income tax
Council of Ireland with representatives from NI and SI would be set up to discuss issues of mutual interest & work towards single parliament for Ireland
Elections for new parliaments held in May 1921
What was the northern unionist reaction to the government of ireland act 1920?
They disliked:
Council of Ireland & aim of uniting ireland under dublin parliament
Reduction of ulster MPs at westminster
Loosening of ireland’s union with britain & potentially weakening of british empire
They liked:
Still being part of UK, british empire & still ruled by british monarchy
Having their own parliament in belfast & wouldn’t have to join cathaloic-dominated all-ireland parliament
Secure protestant majority in 6 counties & could pass laws that suited them
They could eventually get rid of proportional representation to increase political dominance
They thought it was best they could receive in circumstances
What was the northern nationalist reaction to the governmentof ireland act 1920?
Disappointed ireland didn’t become independant, as had been declared in Easter 1916
They hated partitioning of ireland
Felt isolated in protestant-dominated NI, especially during sectarian violence of 1920s
Dismayed at lack of safeguards for their position
What was the southern unionist reaction to the government of ireland act 1920?
Felt betrayed by britain & northern unionists, as partition left them isolated in SI
Felt economically, politically & physically vulnerbale
Major rift developed between northern & southern unionists
What was the southern nationalist reaction to the government of ireland act 1920?
They rejected the act completely, beacuse of:
Lack of independence
Partition
Sinn Fein stood in May 1921 elections, won landslide victory, but refused to attend dublin parliament, continued to meet as Dail Eireann & continued absentionism
Why did both sides want to stop Anglo-Irish War?
Reached military stalemate
Actions of Black & Tans & IRA increaing in bitterness & distress
Cost of war escelating rapidly & destruction of property on huge scale
Leading churchmen & King called to end in violence
British government needed more time to focus on other matters, e.g. social problems & econmic slump after WW1
Name the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
SI would be called Irish Free State
IFS would have its own parliament in Dubli, elected by proportional representation
It would be part of British Empire/Commonwealth
MPs in Dail Eireann would take Oath of Allegiance to British monarch
King’s representative in IFS would be Governor-General
British military would leave IFS except for 3 ports, Cobh, Lough Swilly & Berehaven
IFS would have its own army
IFS people could appeal law cases in Britain’s Privy Council
NI had right to opt out of IFS
Boundary commission set up to decide exact location of border between NI & IFS
What effect did the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921have on southern nationalism?
Caused serious rift which had bitter & long-lasting consequences
Long & angry debate in Dail Eireann
It was accepted 64 votes to 57
Eamon de Valera, president of Dail, walked out in protest
This lead to split in Sinn Fein & IRA, which developed into civil war between pro-treaty & anti-treaty factions between 1922-1923
What parts of Anglo-Irish Treaty did anti-treaty protestors resent most?
Oath of allegiance to king
Role of governor-general in IFS
Power of British Privy Council to affect IFS laws
IFS’s status in british Empire/Commonwealth
Why did pro-treaty nationalists support the Anglo-Irish treaty?
They felt they were step towards independence
It was best deal natioalists could get at time, especially as British government threatening to restart war & many nationalists wanted peace
Links to Britain were only symbolic
How did the Anglo-Irish Treaty effect relations between Britain & IFS?
Relations were very bitter during anglo-irish war after atrocities committed by both sides
These actions continued to mar relationship for decades after war ended
Less animosity over terms of anglo-irish treaty
British satified that IFS still in Emprie/Commonwealth, king’s role still recognised & still had control of 3 ports
British also relieved to get solution to problems in ireland as it was damaging economy, reputation & distracting them from other national & international problems
What was the impact on relations between NI & IFS of the anglo-irish treaty?
Relations were poor, James Craig refused to enter the negotiations & was furious at final terms
Unionists believed:
Treaty’s terms violated 1920 GOIA
Unity of UK & Emprie/Commonwealth
Security of Britain under threat due to loss of military bases in IFS
Boundary commission threat to protestants in border communities.
As a result, Craig promptly opted out of treaty arrangements, but seige mentality of unionists increased
Northern nationalists, like southern nationalists, divided over treaty
Many nationalists resented fact they hadn’t been consulted during negotiations & angry with Dail Eireann for accepting terms, as it confirmed partition & isolation in protestant-dominated NI
Why did the boundary commission not commence until late 1924?
Civil war raged until 1923
Sectarian violence disrupted Belfast
British reluctant to make changes which might be contentious & lead to fall of new governments
British distracted by politcal turmoil in britain
Unionists (content with existing border) feared they would be undermined, refused to nominate representative
What is some background info on the boundary commission?
Border was to be “in accordance with wishes of inhabitants, so far as they might agree with economic & geographic conditions”
Unionists hoped economic conditions would be main test, nationalists hoped it would be wishes of people
Made up of 3 representatives - one from NI, one from IFS, & one neutral chairman
Findings of minor changes to border leaked to Morning Post newspaper, which caused unrest in ireland, so it remained unchanged
What was agreed in the boundary commission?
Border would remain unchanged
Proposed Council of Ireland abolished
Dail Eireann wouldn’t have to pay towards UK’s public debt, but would pay pension to ex-Royal Irish Constabulary officers