The Dismantlement Of The Anglo-Irish Treaty Flashcards
How did De Valera & Fianna Fáil members abolish the Oath of Allegiance?
In 1932 DV discouraged members of Dail from swearing oath of loyalty to British monarch
In January 1933 DV won snap general election, which indicated public approved of his actions
In May 1933, Dail passed law removing Oath of Allegiance
How did De Valera & Fianna Fáil members abolish the role of Governor-General?
DV stopped inviting post holder, James MacNeill, to official events, so eventually British government recalled him to London
DV replaced MacNeill with Fianna Fáil’s Domhnall Ua Buachalla & gave him title: ‘seanascal’ (Chief Steward’
Governor-General’s ability to withhold his consent from bills passed by Dáil Éireann moved in 1933
External Relations Act introduced in 1936 & resulted in post of Governor-General ceasing to exist
How did De Valera & Fianna Fáil members abolish the role of Privy Council?
Right was abolished by Dail in 1933
In 1935, British challenged Dail’s action in Privy Council
Privy Council ruled ‘Statute of Westminster’ (1931, established commonwealth), allowed Dáil Éireann to introduce changes to British legislation
From then on, courts in IFS had final say in law cases
How did De Valera & Fianna Fáil members abolish the authority of the monarchy?
In December 1936, Dail passed External Relations Act which abolished King’s authority in IFS
However, IFS remained member of Commonwealth & King still recognised as head of commonwealth
Why was the Bunreacht na hEireann 1937 drawn up?
DV had made so many changes to terms of Anglo-Irish Treaty that 1922 constitution, which outlined how government of IFS operated, was no longer accurate
DV wanted to fulfil his 1932 election promise to sever links with Britain
DV wanted to take advantage of Britain being distracted by internal & external problems
What were the key terms of the Bunreacht na hEireann?
New name of state was ‘Eire’
Leader of Dáil Éireann was ‘Taoiseach’
President elected every 7 years, replaced monarch as head of state. Douglas Hyde first president in 1938
Article 2 claimed political jurisdiction over whole island of Ireland
Freedom of conscience & religion were granted
Social recognition was given to status & role of Roman Catholic Church
Irish become official language of state
What was the reaction in Britain to the dismantlement of the Anglo-Irish Treaty?
Protested strongly at actions by De Valera between 1932 & 1937
Claimed IFS couldn’t alter term of Anglo-Irish Treaty without mutual consent
They disputed issues such as Governor-General & Eternal Relations Act, which soured relations, but later accepted changes:
In 1935, Privy Council ruled ‘Statute of Westminster’ gave Dáil Éireann authority to repeal British laws & deprived British legal basis for opposing DV’s policies
British believed changes weren’t important as Eire decided to remain in commonwealth
DV held elections & referendum to demonstrate to Britain they’d be going against democratic will
British accepted changes as its politicians were distracted by more pressing problems, like abdication crisis
As increasing Nazi aggression in Europe, Britain didn’t want to hostile IFS when war seemed likely
What was the reaction from northern nationalists to the dismantlement of the Anglo-Irish Treaty?
Attitudes were divided
Early optimism because of Article 2, however overall they felt disillusioned
This was because constitutional changes increased determination of Unionists to stay part of UK & some talks in 1938 between De Valera & Neville Chamberlain failed to end partition
Increasingly disappointed in government of Eire for not standing up & protecting their interests more
They felt isolated as these change didn’t end discrimination against them from majority group of Protestants in NI.
What was the reaction from northern unionists to the dismantlement of the Anglo-Irish Treaty?
Relations with the south declined further
Unionists feared that partition & stability of commonwealth were under threat y DV’s actions
Hey felt aggrieved with British government because it hadn’t tried harder to stop DV
Unionist insecurities & siege mentality increased
Sir James Craig, leader of Unionist Party & Prime Minister of NI, called general election in 1938 Craig’s aim was to strengthen Unionist Party’s majority in NI’s parliament, to send signal to DV of northern unionist disapproval & to put their position ‘beyond doubt’
What was the reaction from Eire to the dismantlement of the Anglo-Irish Treaty?
IFS wasn’t completely independent & partition remained
In referendum of constitution over 30% of electorate didn’t vote & it was accepted by small margin
DV didn’t call Eire a republic as he wanted to avoid alienating Northern Nationalists, unionists & the British, and to ensure he didn’t betray those who had fought for an all-Ireland Republic in Easter 1916
However, his failure to declare a republic reinforced old divisions between pro-treaty & anti-treaty fractions
After initial souring of relations, Britain accepted changes fro pragmatic reasons
What terms of Bunreacht na hEireann were northern unionists especially unhappy at?
Article 2
Special recognition of Roman Catholic Church - they saw as ‘rome rule’
Important on Irish language - seen as gaelicisation of Ireland
Removal of all references to British monarch in new constitution
