Fianna Fail 1932-1939

The Economic war When De Valera came to power in 1932 with Fianna Fail he decided to keep land annuities for the Irish government to invest in Irish industries Land annuities were repayments to the British by Irish farmers who were given loans to pay for land This started the Economic War The British put a 20% tax on cattle imports from Ireland. So the British ended up buying less which resulted in a drop in cattle exports

The Irish responded by placing a 5% on imports coming from Britain which reduced income for the British. The War ended when the Anglo-Irish Agreement was reached. The agreements made included Ireland would give Britain a one off 10million payment for the land annuities The 3 Treaty ports would return to the Irish Free State Both sides would reduce their taxes on their goods

KEYWORDS Taoiseach Land annuities Tariff Economic War Treaty Ports Protectionism Blueshirts Fine Gael Fascist Dictatorship Anglo-Irish Agreement Eoin O’Duffy

The Blueshirts

When Cumann na nGaedheal were in power they arrested IRA members to maintain law and order. When Fianna Fail replaced them in power they released the IRA prisoners. The IRA then started to attack Cumann na nGaedheal in revenge for imprisoning them. The ACA-Army Comrades Association was set up to provide protection for Cumann na nGaedheal meetings. This resulted in clashes between IRA and the ACA De Valera sacks the Garda Commissioner Eoin O’Duffy as he failed to maintain peace O’ Duffy now becomes leader of the ACA which now has the name ‘National Guard’

They adapt a Fascist style (Salute/marches/uniform) and are called Blueshirts due to their uniform De Valera bans their march and outlaws the Blueshirts as he was afraid they would try to take over O’ Duffy is sacked after he allowed the Blueshirts to attack the Gardai Cumann na nGaedheal + Blueshirts = Fine Gael

Achievements of Fianna Fail Dismantled the Anglo-Irish Treaty-how?? (Removed Oath of Allegiance/Closed office of Governor GeneraL/Removed King as head of state) Drew up a new constitution to include new changes Got the 3 Treaty ports back from the British (Cobh/Lough Swilly/Berehaven) which allowed Ireland to be neutral in WW2 Introduced Protectionism (tax on imported good so people would buy Irish goods first) Maintained law and order by banning Blueshirts Introduced laws against the IRA Built 100,000 houses Introduced unemployment benefit Introduced pensions