Sinn Féin and the First Dail 1919 Mansion House 27 TDs only, others in jail or on the run First meeting issued: Declaration of Independence A programme to improve living and working conditions At a later meeting DeValera (rescued) elected president Collins was Minister for Finance; Markieviec (labour), Griffith (home affairs and vice-president) The Dail: Got control of Local gov. Set up their own courts Got loans
The War of Independence - Same day of First Dail, Soloheadbeg happened (Breen, Treacy and others). 2 RIC dead. - Early stages, RIC main target of guerrilla campaign. - Collins Director of Intelligence (The Squad) - Flying Columns (Tom Barry, Liam Lynch, Ernie O Malley) victories at Kilmichael and Crossbarry.
The British Response - Black and tans - Auxiliaries - Could not cope with guerrilla warfare and carried out reprisals (Cork, Balbriggan, burnings, beatings and murder) - The Government of Ireland Act 1920
Major incidents of the War of Independence Tomás MacCurtain’s murder Terence MacSwiney’s 74 day hunger strike Bloody Sunday 21 st of Nov agents killed, 12 in Croke Park Burning of Customs House
Peace - People wanted peace. IRA out of ammo and short of men. - Bad publicity for British gov. Costing a lot of money - DeValera and Lloyd George agreed a ceasefire
Divisions - Pro-Treaty (Regulars or Free State Army) V Anti Treaty (Irregulars or Republicans) - Both sides grabbed barracks as the British left - Irregulars took 4 Courts - Collins won election well. - When 4 Courts Irregulars took a Regular general, Collins attacked them. He won easily with British artillary.
Death of Collins and Griffith - August Griffith had brain haemorrhage - Beal na mBlath – Michael Collins ambushed and killed - WT Cosgrave and Kevin O Higgins took over
` Guerilla Warfare Did not work well because: - Free State had support of most people - They knew the land as well - Great brutality on both sides - April 1923 Liam Lynch killed. Frank Aiken and DeV called a ceasefire
Results Death and destruction Lost leaders Bitterness Political Parties