IRA Background The Map

Northern Ireland

Union of England and Ireland in 1800 Still tensions: Protestant England and Catholic Ireland 1858 Irish independence movement revolutionaries called Fenians 1910s: Many bills in Brisitsh Parliament calling for Ireland independence or autonomy (“Home Rule”)

1913: Ulster Volunteer Force created: Protestants who want Ireland to remain part of England (Unionists) 1913: In response, Irish Volunteers created: independence movement, eventually called Irish Republican Army 1916: Easter Rising: Massive protests for independence; British violent overreaction 1919-1921: Civil War England vs. Ireland

12/6/1921: Anglo-Irish Treaty Created independent Republic of Ireland Six counties of Northern Ireland remain under English control IRA remains committed to independence and against the partition of Ireland

1956-1962: Military campaign of low-level violence by IRA; fails to move Northern Ireland toward independence Key Policy of IRA: Abstentionism: refusal to run for office in English, Irish, or Northern Ireland parliaments – running for office would mean acceptance of these governing structures as legitimate and therefore acceptance of the partition of 1921 and acceptance of English governing structures for Northern Ireland