1. Pursuit of Sovereignty & Impact of Partition
1912 – 1922

2. Background
Act of Union 1800 – came into effect in 1801: created the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland’
Home Government Association founded by Isaac Butt in 1870
Became the Home Rule Party in 1873
Parnell’s leadership of Home Rule Party (1880 – 1890) brought about the 1st Home Rule Bill (1886) : defeated by House of Lords’ veto
2nd Home Rule Bill (1893) defeated again by House of Lords
*Parliament Act (1911) reduced the House of Lords’ veto to a delay of 2 years*
3rd Home Rule Bill passed in 1914

3. Cultural Nationalism 1880’s - 1910
With the failure of Parnell’s Nationalist movement and the 1st & 2nd Home Rule Bills, Nationalists inevitably looked to more homogenous characteristics of Irish identity. This occurred as a natural process of re-awakening Irish identity in language, sport and literature provoked and encouraged by the political process of nationalism.
Gaelic Athletic Association (1884)
Gaelic League (1893)
Anglo-Irish Literary Revival (1900’s)

4. The Parliament Act (1911)
The Parliament Act of 1911 was a culmination of a struggle between the Liberal Government of Britain & the House of Lords in Westminster.
The Liberal Government had attempted to bring in a controversial ‘Peoples’ Budget’ in 1909 which would have resulted in a greater distribution of wealth and a ‘supertax’ on wealthy landowners. The Conservatives opposed the Bill also.
In an effort to remove the veto of the House of Lords, the Parliament Act was passed which reduced the House of Lords’ Veto to a delay of 2 years. *Considering how the House of Lords had vetoed both the 1886 & 1893 Home Rule Bills, this would prove to be a very significant legislative event for Ireland.

5. 1912 – 1920: Growth of Extremism & Partition of Ireland
- 3rd Home Rule Bill
- Solemn League & covenant
- uvf & Irish volunteers
- split in irish volunteers
rising
general election: Sinn féin victory
- 1st dáil eireann
- declaration of independence
- irish war of independence
- Truce & treaty negotiations
- Sinn féin split

6. 3rd Home Rule Bill (11th of April 1912)
Introduced on 11th April 1912 by Prime Minister H.H. Asquith of the Liberal Government (supported by the Irish National Parliamentary Party)
Provisions:
Bicameral Parliament (upper & lower houses – a ‘Senate’ & ‘House of Commons’) to be created in Dublin, dealing with internal affairs such as education, agriculture, policing etc.
A limited number of Irish MPs to continue sitting in Westminster
Abolition of Dublin Castle
Retention of Lord Lieutenant
passed in House of Commons; rejected by House of Lords
1913 – passed in House of Commons; again rejected by House of Lords
1914: - passed in House of Commons; again rejected by House of Lords.
(Parliament Act utilised: House of Lords by-passed - sent for ‘Royal Assent’ which it received.
‘Government of Ireland Act (1914)’
*Government of Ireland Act (1914) ‘shelved’ due to outbreak of World War One

7. Religious Distribution in Ireland (1912)
Unionists constituted a very small minority of the population in Munster, Leinster & Connaught, but held a slight majority in the province of Ulster.
This slight majority would become a key area of concern for Unionists in Ulster and would result in a ‘specific local partitioning’ of Ulster itself:
IN: 6 counties of Armagh, Antrim, Down, Derry, Fermanagh & Tyrone would be included as they contained a majority of Unionists
OUT: Cavan, Donegal & Monaghan would be excluded as they contained a minority of Unionists

8. Unionist Party of Ireland (1910)
Sir Edward Carson
- Unionist Party leader
Sir James Craig
- Unionist Party deputy leader
Political Allies:
Ever since Gladstone’s Liberal Government support for Home Rule in the 1880’s, the Conservative Party of Britain, had diametrically given support to Irish Unionism.
Conservative Party was also very pro-Empire

9. 3rd Home Rule Bill: Unionist Reaction
Unionists outraged at proposition of Home Rule – declared their opposition to HR in ‘Ulster Solemn League & Covenant’ signed by over 200,000 male Unionists in Belfast on September 28th, 1912.
A similar, but separate Covenant was signed by over 250, ooo Unionist women.
Reasons for Unionist Opposition to Home Rule:
- Religious
- Political
- Economic
Edward Carson & supporters signing the Solemn League & Covenant in Belfast on September 28th,1912

10. Ulster Volunteer Force (1913)
The Ulster Volunteer Force was formed in 1913 as a direct expression of the Solemn League & Covenant
Limited to 100,000 men who had already signed the Covenant, enlistment began on the 13th January 1913.
A retired General, Sir George Richardson, was appointed as their commander.
“...using all means that may become necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a Home Rule parliament in Ireland...”
Solemn League & Covenant (1912)

11. ‘The North Began’
“There is nothing to prevent the other twenty-eight counties from calling into existence citizen forces to hold Ireland "for the Empire". It was precisely with this object that the Volunteers of 1782 were enrolled, and they became the instrument of establishing Irish self-government.”
Eoin MacNeill
‘An Claidheamh Soluis’
1st November 1913

12. Irish National Volunteer Force & IRB
Bulmer Hobson (IRB)
EoinMacNeill (Gaelic League)

13. Irish National Volunteer Force & IRB
The IRB was always interested in any group espousing Irish cultural, linguistic, economic or political independence. IRB underwent a revival from 1900 on, with Denis McCullagh, Bulmer Hobson (Dungannon Clubs & ‘The Republic’ [newspaper]) & Seán McDermott all contributing hugely to a recruitment drive towards renewed physical force nationalism.
Many older Fenians in the IRB were being replaced by younger, more energetic men, with Thomas Clarke a sole surviving ‘older’ Fenian maintaining the link with the past.
The IRB infiltrated all Nationalist organisations e.g. GAA & Gaelic League and remained in the background, preparing for a rebellion, while the Irish Home Rule Party enjoyed electoral success up to 1914.

14. Irish National Volunteer Force
- Founded on 25th November in the Rotunda, Dublin, to protect implementation of Home Rule
- MacNeill heavily influenced by Hobson
- Run by a Provisional Committee
- Up to 75,000 members initially
- Cumann na mBan set up as an auxiliary force
- Heavily infiltrated by IRB from beginning
- Conflict of aims?

15. Cumann na mBan (2nd April 1914)

16. John Redmond & Irish Volunteers

17. Volunteers: A Threat to Redmond’s Authority?
John Redmond viewed the formation of the Irish National Volunteer Force as a potentially destabilising threat to the hegemony of the Irish Parliamentary Party in Nationalist Ireland.
He demanded that 25 individuals, nominated by his party, should be on the Provisional Committee of the Volunteers.
MacNeill accepted this compromise, essentially granting Redmond control over the Volunteers.
IRB men in the Volunteers objected, but to no avail.

18. The Curragh Mutiny (20th March 1914)
In response to a potential clash with Ulster Volunteers, fifty-eight British Army officers, stationed in the Curragh in Co. Kildare, resigned their commissions in protest.
British Prime Minister Asquith moved to quell unrest in the Army by assuring them they would not be forced to interfere with the Ulster Volunteer Force.

19. Howth, Co. Dublin (Irish National Volunteers)
Gun-Running
Larne, Co. Antrim (UVF)
Howth, Co. Dublin (Irish National Volunteers)
24-25th April, 1914: 25,000 guns & 3million rounds of ammunition
26th July, 1914: Irish Volunteers unload the ‘Asgard’

20. - Carson & Craig (Ulster Unionists)
- Lord Landsdowne & Bonar Law (Conservative Party)
- Redmond & Dillon (Irish Parliamentary Party)
- Asquith (PM) & Lloyd George (British Government)
The Buckingham Palace Conference was organised to attempt to bring about a compromise solution in Ireland between Unionist & Nationalist demands. It ended on 24th July, 1914, without any solution.

21. Home Rule ‘shelved’

22. Home Rule ‘shelved’
With the outbreak of the First World War on

23. Redmond & World War I
Initially, the Irish Volunteers were formed to support Home Rule and the mainstream Nationalist agenda. They were formed as a reaction to the establishment of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
As the situation in mainland Europe detiorated, Redmond proposed that the Volunteers prove their nationalist credentials to Britain & the world by fighting alongside the Allies in World War One.
The fate of small Catholic countries like Belgium was used as a cause for creating support for the war effort
This caused a split in the Irish Volunteers, with the vast majority supporting Redmond’s proposition
“...to the best of her ability to go where ever the firing line extends, in defence of right, of freedom and of religion in this war. It would be a disgrace forever to our country otherwise...“
Woodenbridge Speech
20th September 1914

24. 1914 – 1916: Irish Volunteer Split
National Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
Numbering about 180,ooo, they actively or passively agreed with Redmond’s proposition.
32,000 of the National Volunteers fought in the 10th & 16th Divisions of the British Army during WWI.
Totally opposed to Redmond’s proposal to fight alongside the British, this small number of Volunteers left to form the ‘Irish Volunteers’.
They would play a significant part in the Easter Rising alongside groups such as the Irish Citizen Army, the IRB & Fianna Eireann
*Sinn Féin Volunteers*
*After Redmond’s Woodenbridge speech, many Sinn Féiners joined the Irish Volunteers, hence ....

25. 1916 Rising
“If we accomplish no more than we have accomplished, I am satisfied that we have saved Ireland’s honour.”
Patrick Pearse
` – The Triumph of Failure
R.W. Edwards.

26. Planning for Rebellion: 1915 - 1916
I R B
Irish Volunteers (Eoin MacNeill)
Irish Citizen Army (James Connolly)
Cumann na mBan (Countess Markiewicz)
‘Castle Document’ (forgery) – issues countermanding orders to ‘stand down’ on Sunday, April 23rd 1916
Supreme Council (1915)
Eamon Ceannt
Thomas MacDonagh
Padraig Pearse
Joseph Plunkett
Thomas Clarke
Seán McDermott
Proclamation of
Irish Republic
Roger Casement & ‘Aud’ captured off coast of Kerry, Easter Weekend, 1916

27. Formation of 1916 Rebel Forces
Irish Republican Brotherhood
Cumann na mBan
Irish Citizen Army
Irish Volunteers
Sinn Féin?
1916 Rebels

28. Rebels’ Positions Easter week 1916

29. Strategic Approach Capture key buildings: ‘Static Warfare’
GPO – HQ of Rising
Pearse – C/O of Rebels, reads Proclamation on Monday, 24th April 1916
Disrupt British communications
Provoke national uprising
Strengths:
Immediate strike at the centre of British Rule in Ireland, capturing key buildings would immediately propel the British forces into an armed conflict on the streets of Dublin. Daring and provocative, it would place the conflict in full view of the population.
Weaknesses:
Isolated ‘static warfare’ approach would achieve limited success at best, UNLESS there was a widespread support of the population. Difficulty with support & re-supply, British forces found it relatively easy to isolate and ‘choke’ these pockets of resistance.
*MacNeill’s countermanding orders*

30. 1916: A Doomed Attempt or Strategic Failure?
MacNeill’s Countermanding Orders
MacNeill’s decision to issue countermanding orders before the rebellion sealed its failure. Without widespread, national support the Rebels had no hope of successfully destabilising British control of Ireland
Pearse’s
‘Blood Sacrifice’
Padraig Pearse became radicalised between the years 1912 & Realising fully the futility of even a large uprising without popular support, he instead preached the value of ‘Blood Sacrifice’ that would re-new Irish Nationalism.
Heavily influenced by Robert Emmet’s speech in 1803.

31. Aftermath of Rising: The ‘Triumph of Failure’
“We have done right. People will say hard things of us now, but later on they will praise us.”
Patrick Pearse
The Triumph of Failure
R.W.Edwards

32. 1916 – 1918: Rise of Sinn Féin
Growing anger at British heavy-handedness in aftermath of Rising
Martial Law
*British failure to implement Home Rule in Ireland
Sinn Féin as ‘scapegoat’
In an effort to ‘explain’ the “treacherous” behaviour of the 1916 Rebels, the British Government made a fundamental error in attempting to scapegoat Sinn Féin entirely for the Rising. Although clearly involved in the Rising, blaming the entire rebellion on one political party served only to focus the reaction, mostly hostile, of Irish moderate nationalists and extremists.

33. 1910 - 1918 UK & Ireland General Election Shift

34. Demise of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Election result (ireland only) 1918:
Sinn FÉIN - 73
Irish Unionist - 22
Irish ParliamentarY PARTY - 6
Labour Unionist - 3
Independent Unionist - 1

35. An Chéad Dáil Eirinn 1919

36. Declaration of Independence: January 1919
On 21st January 1919, the first Dáil Eireann met in Mansion House in Dublin.
Sinn Féin TDs (Teachta Dála) met in line with their policy of Abstentionism from Westminster Parliament.
Only 27 TDs met at this first gathering, due to many being in jail.
Dáil issued the Declaration of Independence to the “free nations of the world” seeking recognition for the Republic.

37. Irish War of Independence 1919 - 1921
Significant Events
Guerilla Warfare
Soloheadbeg Ambush
Murder of Thomás McCurtain
Hunger Strike & Death of Terence MacSwiney
Kilmichael Ambush - Burning of Cork
Cairo Gang Assassinations - Bloody Sunday
Truce offered by British Government

38. Soloheadbeg - on the same day as the Declaration of Independence from the Dáil, IRA forces in Soloheadbeg, Tipperary attacked an RIC detachment in an ambush.
Kilmichael Ambush & Burning of Cork - in retaliation for numerous attacks and ambushes on Crown forces in County Cork and city, on the day of the Kilmichael Ambush in County Cork, Black & Tans set fire to the city centre of Cork.
Thomás McCurtain – murdered by men with blackened faces, an independent inquiry returned a judgement of murder against Lloyd George, the British Prime Minister.
Terence MacSwiney – Having taken the place of McCurtain, MacSwiney was arrested and went on hunger strike, dying after 73 days.
Cairo Gang Assassinations & Bloody Sunday - Collins sent out the ‘Squad’ on Sunday morning of the 20th November to assassinate the ‘Cairo Gang’ – members of British intelligence sent over to Ireland to deal with the growing IRA activity in Ireland. In response to these assassinations, British forces entered Croke Park and shot into the crowd killing 14 people, including a GAA player called Michael Hogan.

39. DeValera’s Talks with L. George (1920)
In 1920, DeValera held a series of discussions with Lloyd George about a possible settlement even while the War of Independence was raging throughout the country.
The most persistent idea that deVelera espoused was that of ‘External Association’, whereby an independent Ireland would be choose to be ‘externally associated’ with Britain: thereby accomodating Unionists in the north of Ireland

40. Government of Ireland Act (1920)
In response to the escalating situation throughout most of the country, northern Unionists moved to cement their position within the United Kingdom.
The result of these talks between Craig & Lloyd George was the Government of Ireland Act (1920), whereby the north of Ireland would remain part of the UK as long they wished.
When the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, one of the key agreements was that the north of Ireland could ‘opt out’ of the new Irish Free State if they wished. They did so, two days after the foundation of the Irish Free State on December 8th, 1921.

41. ` Government of Ireland Act (1920)
Lloyd George hoped to bring about a ‘Home Rule all Round’ solution to Ireland, thereby placating both Republicans & Unionists as well as international opinion.
Unionists demanded simple majority, but PR was inserted into the Bill as the voting method.
Unionists argued in favour of a 6-county Northern Ireland, rather than a 9-county Northern Ireland, thereby ensuring their majority in the new state.
Provisions of the Act:
- A ‘Northern State’ of six counties & a ‘Southern State’ of 26 counties
- Bicameral Parliaments, North & South (Commons & Senate)
Each State would elect a government & a Prime Minister
Both states would share a common Viceroy to the King of England
Westminster would retain ‘Imperial Powers’ over both states
A ‘Council of Ireland’ would be set up to create a platform for discussion, interaction & agreement between both states.

42. Reactions to Govt. of Ireland Act (1920)
Dáil Eireann
Unionists
Partition unacceptable to Sinn Féin
Viceroy & retention of ‘Imperial Powers’ unacceptable to Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin insisted on complete separation, although talks were already on-going between DeValera & Lloyd George.
Satisfied with the ‘ring-fencing’ of Northern Ireland at the least.
Six-county state was key to maintaining Unionist domination of Northern Ireland & protecting them from future assimilation into a ‘United Ireland’.
Unhappy about PR, but over-ruled by Lloyd George.

43. Anglo – Irish Treaty Negotiations 1921
Sinn Féin Delegation
British Delegation
Arthur Griffith, Michael Collins, Robert Barton, George Gavin Duffy, Eamon Duggan , Erskine Childers.
Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, Lord Birkenhead , Austen Chamberlain

44. Issues of Contention
Offer of negotiation from British Government to Dáil Eireann in July Truce declared on July 11th 1921.
Plenipotentiaries: Who should negotiate & what powers should they be granted?
“..negotiate and conclude … a treaty or treaties of settlement, association and accommodation between Ireland and the community of nations known as the British Commonwealth..”
‘Dominion Status’ v. ‘External Association’ : What was the ultimate aim of the Sinn Féin delegation?
Partition, Unionism & Government of Ireland Act (1920): How would the Sinn Féin delegation overcome the already-established Northern Ireland State?

45. Prelude to Negotiations
Instructions to Irish Delegation
British Proposals & Representatives
‘Draft Treaty A’ = External Association
DeValera’s qualification of ‘Envoys Plenipotentiaries’:
‘a main question’ or ‘the complete text of the draft treaty about to be signed’ (Refer back to Dublin)
DeValera’s insistence at remaining at home during negotiations.
(To distance the office of President of Dáil Eireann from unacceptable proposals & create time-lapse to control direction of negotiations)
Northern Ireland already established: therefore off the table*
Integrity of British
Commonwealth to be maintained
Lloyd George, Churchill, Chamberlain & Lord Birkenhead to form front-line negotiation team.

46. Negotiations: 11th October – 6th December 1921
11th – 17th October:
British delegation outline strong proposals and reinforce their aim to maintain the integrity of British Commonwealth. Sinn Féin delegation refute British claim over Ireland & offer considered clarifications & responses. Little progress made.

47. Dáil Debates Anglo-Irish Treaty
M. Collins (Pro-Treaty)
E. deValera (Anti-Treaty)
Freedom to achieve freedom
Control of Internal Affairs
Removal of British forces from Ireland
Oath of Allegiance
Partition
Dominion Status

48. Dáil vote on Anglo-Irish Treaty 7th January 1922
Republican Ideal
Irish Free State: “freedom to achieve freedom”
Oath of Allegiance unacceptable
Boundary Commission to examine Partition Border
Partition unacceptable

49. From Division to Conflict: Pro-Treaty v. Anti-Treaty 1922 - 1923

50. Sinn Féin: 1905 - 1922 Founded in 1905 (Arthur Griffith)
Name suggested by Máire Butler, cousin of Edward Carson!!!
Impatience for Home Rule created greater support, 1905 – 1910.

51. Timeline
1911 – Parliament Act 1912 – 3rd Home Rule Bill introduced to House of Commons – Solemn League & Covenant 1913 – Irish Citizen Army formed – Ulster Volunteer Force formed – Irish National Volunteer Force formed 1914 – Government of Ireland Act (1914) passed in Westminster – Outbreak of World War One 1916 – Proclamation of Irish Republic & Easter Rising 1917 – Sinn Féin re-organisation 1918 – Sinn Féin win 73 seats in UK & Ireland Election (1918) 1919 – Dáil Eireann established: issues Declaration of Independence to the “free nations of the world” – Outbreak of Irish War of Independence 1920 – Burning of Cork, Bloody Sunday, death of Terence MacSwiney 1921 – British offer of truce leads to Treaty negotiations – Anglo-Irish Treaty signed in London; ratified by Dáil Eireann; Irish Free State comes into effect on 6th January 1922

52. Past Exam Questions (Higher) 1912 - 1921
- During the period , what factors contributed to the partition of Ireland? 2010
- Why were the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations controversial? 2009
- To what extent was the Anglo-Irish Treaty, 1921, responsible for the Irish Civil War? 2008
- What were the aims and achievements of Patrick Pearse? 2007
- From 1912 onwards, what factors contributed to the partition of Ireland, 1920? 2006

53. Past Exam Questions (Ordinary) 1912 - 1921
Part B: Paragraph
Part C: Essay -