The Treaty Negotiations Background The War of independence 1919-21 I.R.A. guerrilla warfare/ambushes Black and Tans burning of Cork and attack on Croke Park Deaths 1,400 Truce called 11th of July 1921

The Treaty Negotiations The Government of Ireland Act 1920 had partitioned Ireland The Treaty Negotiations Early stage- July to October 1921 De Valera and Lloyd George met 4 times De Valera wanted a 32 county Republic Lloyd George wanted Ireland to remain in the Commonwealth and to keep the parliament in Northern Ireland

Negotiations– October to December 1921 The Irish delegation consisted of: Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, Robert Barton, Eamon Duggan, Charles Gavin Duffy and Erskine Childers. De Valera did not go. He stayed in Dublin The English delegation consisted of: Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, Austen Chamberlain and Lord Birkenhead. They were very experienced negotiators.

The Terms of the Treaty The Irish Free State would have “Dominion Status” the same as Canada and Australia The King would be represented in Ireland by a Governor-General Members of the Dail would have to take an Oath of Allegiance to the King 3 Treaty Ports- the British would be kept by the British Navy A Boundary Commission was to be established to decide on the border with Northern Ireland

The treaty caused deep divisions in the country Reaction to the Treaty The treaty caused deep divisions in the country the Cabinet were divided the Dail was divided the I.R.A was divided the country was divided Families were divided

Arguments in favour of the Treaty the treaty was the best deal available the alternative was to resume war which many in the I.R.A. felt they could not win it was better than Home Rule Michael Collins suggested that the treaty was “a stepping stone” to a full Republic the Boundary Commission would deal with the issue of the border

Arguments against the Treaty People had fought and died for a Republic. The Irish Free State was not a republic Dominion status would let Britain interfere in Irelands affairs the Oath of Allegiance to the King outraged many republicans the 3 treaty ports proved Ireland was not independent

People in favour of the Treaty Griffith, Collins, Mulcahy, Cosgrave People against the Treaty De Valera Brugha Stack The Dail 64 For 57 Against

The Irish Civil War the I.R.A. split on the Treaty the Anti-Treaty I.R.A. refused to accept the treaty. They were known as the irregulars. Led by Rory O’Connor they took over the four courts Collins shelled the four courts. The fighting in Dublin lasted a week. the anti-treaty forces were strongest in Munster

Michael Collins was killed in an ambush in Beal na mblath, Co. Cork the Civil War caused a lot of bitterness about 4,000 people were killed there was a lot of damage done to property Frank Aiken called a ceasefire to end the Civil War