The Condition of Ireland and Anglo-irish Relations 1939-64 Flashcards
When did the friction between Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State become gradually less severe?
Towards the end of the 1930s
To what extent was there acceptance of the partition?
There was still desire among the Irish Nationalists for Ireland to be united but there was a gradual acceptance of the partition among the majority in the South
How was the the Republic of Ireland declared?
-The Irish Premier De Valera’s main issue w/ the British gov was achieving complete independence
-In 1949, Attlee’s gov endorsed partition via the Government of Ireland Act; declared Eire a republic, the Republic of Ireland, w/ complete independence from Britain
What cultural differences did De Valera introduce in the Irish Republic?
-Cultural identity of the Irish Republic as Roman Catholic and Gaelic was asserted
-Censorship laws banned ‘unwholesome literature’, largely mainstream British
-Compulsory teaching of Gaelic in Irish schools in 1930s
-Divorce & contraception illegal from mid-1930s
What was the impact of the compulsive teaching of Gaelic in Irish schools?
-Created further barrier between north & south
-Alienated Protestant population
-Brought unwelcome familiarity & Irish themselves lost interest in their language
How did the economy of Ireland look after it was declared a republic/post-ww2?
-De Valera’s economic war w/ GB, although settling 1939, badly damaged economy of South
-Some Protestants in Ulster believed united Ireland was preferable to divided one; for process of economic integration. This became less & less viable as time passed
-Irish economy was too dependent on land & little else
-Post-war, Ireland was struggling w/ stagnant economy
How did Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland differ post-war in terms of economy & society?
-Ireland; struggling w/ stagnant economy & demoralised society, lacking in vitality
-Northern Ireland; economy booming, standard of living rising but lesser extent in Catholic communities. Ulster embraced new welfare state, all citizens could enjoy benefits
What was the impact of Sean Lemass emerging as Taoiseach/successor to De Valera in 1957?
-Brought some improvement in the economy of the Republic
-Embraced foreign capital investment
-Increased state expenditure
-Established Programme for Economic Development
-Realised potential for tourism in south & encouraged its expansion
-Was altogether more outward-looking
What was the impact of the position that Eire adopted during WW2?
Damaged its relationship with Britain & Ulster
Why was Britain faced with a potential enemy on its western flank when WW2 broke out?
-Although Eire declared its wish to remain neutral, it was well known in gov & diplomatic circles De Valera was in contact w/ Nazi Germany
-In 1938, a few months earlier, w/ compliance of Ulster PM Sir James Craig, GB conceded Irish Treaty Ports to De Valera in a gesture of goodwill; GB exposed & vulnerable to possible German attack from West
What did Britain do to try and strike a deal with the Irish Free State to gain its support against Hitler?
-Was prepared to scrap partition treaty & allow Ireland to re-unite w/ north
-Offer of united Ireland was made to De Valera on 28 June 1940
What was Sir James Craig’s reaction to Britain’s proposal of scrapping the partition and why?
-There was little democratic discussion w/ Ulster
-Craig was summoned to London & instructed to get on w/ sorting out details of deal
-He was incensed & accused GB gov of betrayal, & fed info back to gov that De Valera wasn’t to be trusted & that he was already deeply involved w/ Hitler + Nazis
What were the reasons for De Valera not accepting the revoking of the partition?
-Rumours the IRA had become involved in a complex Nazi plot to attack GB via Northern Ireland may have been spread to unsettled De Valera; this would’ve left Eire in uncertain position
-Was assumed that Germany wouldn’t interfere w/ Eire to not alienate America, w/ its close links to Ireland
-By 1940, Hitler was triumphant in Europe & GB was struggling to survive; De Valera’s greatest fear was joining war on losing side
What happened as a result of De Valera again refusing a deal of unity with Britain from Churchill in 1941?
-He continued to insist on Eire’s neutrality
-Due to Eire’s refusal to allow British navy to use Irish ports, they lost approx 368 ships & 5070 lives
-British gov left with poor view of Eire’s behaviour
How did Ulster act contrastingly to Eire during WW2?
-Acted w/ loyalty + courage
-Hard at work in Harland & Wolff shipyards to replace ships sunk by German torpedoes
-Giving essential shelter to naval vessels
What happened when De Valera came forward with a proposal for a united Ireland in 1947?
It was rejected
