History Revision Notes
Contents
Easter Rising 2
Rise of Sinn Fein 6
War of Independence 9
Anglo-Irish Treaty 14
Civil War 16
Northern Ireland Government 20
Home Rule 24
Government of Ireland act 30
Answering Questions 32
1
,Causes of the Easter rising
1. Cultural nationalism
2. Impact of Ulster resistance
3. The First World War
4. Effect on the IRB
5. A revolt against the IPP
6. Reorganisation of the IRB
7. Need for a Blood sacrifice
8. Involvement of James Connolly and the Irish citizen army.
New nationalism (cultural nationalism)
Towards the end of the 19th century, the idea that Ireland had a distinctive cultural
identity began to take hold. The cause of cultural nationalism was helped by a growing
disillusionment with constitutional nationalism as a result of the failure of the first two
home rule bills. Indeed, the failure of the 2nd Home rule bill convinced many nationalists
that their aims could not be achieved by constitutional means. Instead, they sought to
create a distinct Irish identity, which would one day be used to forcefully assert Irish
independence. They diverted their energies into creating a Gaelic League to
reawaken interest in the Irish language and a National Literary Society to develop
an interest in Irish literature and Irish history. They also sought to establish a unique
Irish culture, with distinct Irish sports through the creation of the GAA.
The Gaelic League was the key organisation in the quest for cultural regeneration and
it brought a generation of young men to the cause of Irish nationalism. Patrick Pearse
said of the League that it provided his “tutelage” by demonstrating what was meant by
Irishness. Douglas Hyde, the League’s original founder, had intended that the
movement should stay outside politics, but as time went on it became increasingly
difficult to divorce the desire for cultural nationalism from the desire for political
freedom. In November 1913, Pearse hinted at his revolutionary intentions when he
stated: ‘We never meant to be Gaelic Leaguers, and nothing more than Gaelic
Leaguers.’
The cultural movement attracted young men of talent and ambition who felt politically
excluded by the established forces of constitutional nationalism. It was from this group
that the Irish revolutionary elite emerged. The revival of the language gave Ireland a
claim to nationality, and the Gaelic League classes helped to develop the romantic
revolutionary spirit which was so prominent among the leaders of the Rising, e.g.
Pearse, Plunkett and MacDonagh. Lyons says of these three: “They were all poets,
they were all Gaelic enthusiasts, they were all consumed by the same fire of
revolutionary romanticism.”
The main contribution of new nationalism to the Easter Rising is that it boosted
the idea of a separate, distinct Irish nation, and it also produced a number of key
leaders of the Rising.
2
,Impact of Ulster resistance to home rule
The campaign of opposition against home rule undertaken by Edward Carson and the
Ulster Unionists undermined Redmond and the IPP. The signing of the Solemn
League and Covenant, preparations to form a provisional government and the
formation of the UVF and subsequent gunrunning represented the development of an
extra-parliamentary strategy, and this gained the respect of more advanced
nationalists, e.g., Eoin MacNeill and Patrick Pearse, in that the actions of Carson
and the Ulster Unionists showed their willingness to take control of their own destiny,
even to the point of rebellion against the British government.
Carson’s actions transformed a significant number of home rule supporters into radical
nationalists. As late as 1912, Pearse had been a committed home ruler before being
influenced by the UVF. He was certainly stirred by the sight of Irishmen with rifles, and,
by November 1913, he was writing, “Personally, I think the Orangemen with a rifle, a
much less ridiculous figure than the Nationalist without one”.
The formation of the UVF encouraged nationalists to set up the IVF, and with the
arming of both groups, Carson can be said to have “brought the gun back into Irish
politics” (Russell Rees).
The formation of the Irish Volunteers breathed new life into the IRB because the secret,
illegal group was able to infiltrate the much bigger and open movement. Carson’s
actions certainly gave a boost to the IRB and gave renewed strength to their desire to
use force to win Irish Freedom in the words of Michael Laffan, “Carson re-lit the
Fenian flame.”
World War One
WW1 was a factor in the Easter Rising for the following reasons:
Effect on the IRB
The IRB believed strongly in the old saying, ‘England’s difficulty is Ireland’s
opportunity’. The war gave the IRB the opportunity to strike a blow for Ireland’s
freedom when Britain was experiencing the greatest difficulty in its history.
The IRB took advantage of the split caused in the Volunteers by Redmond’s Wooden
bridge speech. It managed to secure some key posts on the ruling executive of the
minority Irish Volunteers, who felt the war had nothing to do with Ireland.
Revolt against the IPP
The outbreak of the war created divisions within Nationalist ranks. Home rule had
become law in 1914, but the outbreak of the war had caused its operation to be
suspended for the duration of the war. The postponement of Home Rule led many
nationalists to focus on the actual limitations of the legislation. By 1916, a growing
number of Irish nationalists were becoming disillusioned at the lack of progress on
3
, home rule. It had become in the words of MacNeill, ‘a cheque continuously post-
dated.’
Some nationalists began to question Redmond’s leadership and the wisdom of his
support for the British war effort, especially when so little appeared to be forthcoming
in return. The appointment of both Carson and Bonar Law to Asquith’s coalition
government in 1915 limited Redmond’s say on home rule especially how he refused
to take a seat even when offered one.
Even loyal nationalists were annoyed at the insensitivity of the British government.
They had allowed the formation of a special Ulster Division in the British army to
incorporate the Ulster Volunteers, but they had not granted Redmond’s National
Volunteers the same privilege.
The war undermined constitutional nationalism in other ways too:
• The Irish public had a growing fear of conscription.
• The war curtailed emigration, which had previously acted as a safety valve by
removing the most dissatisfied element in society. These young men’s
opposition to the war and their fear of conscription drew them to the more
extreme nationalist groups.
It’s important to note, only a small number of extreme nationalists were actively
considering a rebellion. According to R.F. Foster, “1916 was made by a minority of a
minority.”
The most important aspect of the war as a factor in the Easter rising was simply
that it provided an opportunity for such a rising.
Reorganisation of the IRB
Three groups participated in 1916: the IRB, the Irish Volunteers, and James
Connolly’s Irish Citizen Army (ICA). The IRB were the most influential in terms of
the planning and organising of the rebellion. This secret, oath-bound, movement had
been reorganised by Tom Clarke, who returned to Ireland in 1907 determined to
organise a rebellion.
By 1912, a young group of militants had gained control of the IRB, but the movement
remained weak and largely ineffective. The formation of the Irish Volunteers in
November 1913 breathed new life into the IRB, as it was able to use the Volunteers
as a cover organisation for their own designs, and several of the key posts in the
Volunteers were held by IRB men.
The split in the Volunteers following Redmond’s Wooden bridge speech further
strengthened the IRB’s position. However, MacNeill himself was opposed to the idea
of a rebellion because he believed that unless it had a good chance of success it
“would in the first place be morally wrong.” He argued that if they waited until Britain
attempted either to introduce conscription or suppress the Volunteers or deny Ireland’s
right to home rule, they would win the widespread popular support necessary to rise
against the authorities.
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