Review of Ireland 1923-1932 Presentation prepared by: Dominic Haugh St. Particks Comprehensive School Shannon Co. Clare Presentation can be used for educational purposes only – all rights remain with author

Review of Ireland 1922-1939 Political Parties 1922 Cumann na nGaedheal (pro-Treaty Sinn Fein) Sinn Fein (anti-Treaty) Labour Party Farmers Party

Cumann na nGaedheal 1923-32 General Election August 1923 Sinn Fein refuses to attend Dail (abstention) Cumman na nGaedheal has majority William T. Cosgrave (President of Executive)

Issues Facing Government Consolidating the State Law and Order Economic Difficulties Foreign Policy

Consolidating the State The ‘New’ Civil Service The Civic Guard (the Gardai) The Courts Local Government Founding of Fianna Fail (1926)

Law and Order Civic Guard (the Gardai) Dealing with IRA The Army Mutiny 1924 The Assassination of Kevin O’Higgins New Laws force Fianna Fail to take the Oath of Allegiance The Red Scare 1929

Economic Difficulties Economic Recession (began 1921) Economic problems from war Laissez-Faire policies Emphasis on Agriculture Balance the books Ultimate Financial Agreement 1926 Government to continue paying land annuties

Specific Measures 1923 – cuts in pay for civil servants, teachers and gardai 1924 – cuts in old age pension 1924 – cuts taxes 1927 – ACC established 1927 – Building of Shannon Scheme

Foreign Policy Participation in League of Nations Participation in Imperial Conferences 1925 – The Boundary Commission 1931 – Statute of Westminster

Questions to Ask?? How successful were Cumann na nGaedheal in Power? Consolidating the New State? Law and Order? Economic Policy? Foreign Policy?

Fianna Fail in Power 1932-1939 Elected with help of Labour in 1932 1933 – Snap election – win overall majority Threats to the State (Law and Order) 1937 Constitution Foreign Policy Economic Policies

Threats to the State IRA DeValera releases IRA men from jail By 1936 uses the same powers to re-arrest them again Threats from the Blueshirts

New Constitution Dismantling the Treaty 1932 – Abolished the Oath of Allegiance 1932 – Undermined the Governor General 1936 – Constitutional Amendment Act and External Relations Act 1937 – New Constitution

Foreign Policy Tied to – Dismantling of the Treaty Economic War

Economic Policy More government involvement in Economy More spending on housing and services Drive to develop industry Implementation of a policy of Protectionism DeValera wants to break economic links with Britain Drive for self-sufficiency

Economic War 1932 – July – DeValera refuses to pay land annuities Sparks Economic War with Britain Both sides impose tariffs on imports ‘Burn everything British but it’s coal’ 1935 – The Coal-Cattle Pact 1938 – The Anglo Irish Agreement

Questions to Ask?? How successful were Fianna Fail in Power? Law and Order? Foreign Policy? Economic Policy? Did deValera make Ireland ‘self-sufficient’?

Main Topics for Questions Success or failure of different policies Comparing CnanG and FF in different policy areas Comparing success or failure of Cosgrave and deValera

Homework Take each policy topic and outline one reason why you feel the government of the time were a success or failure 4 for Cummann na nGaedheal 1923-1932 4 for Fianna Fail 1932-1939