Ireland Lesson plans, worksheets & other resources. Gary Hillyard. Ashfield School, Kirkby-in-Ashfield

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1 'Ireland in Schools' Nottingham Pilot Scheme School of Education, U. of Nottingham Ireland Lesson plans, worksheets & other resources Booklet 11b Topic 10b: The rise of Sinn Fein (Lessons 32-34) By Gary Hillyard Ashfield School, Kirkby-in-Ashfield The following are available at this booklet in pdf format; and a PowerPoint including the presentations and visual sources used in the topic.

2 Topic title: The Rise of Sinn Fein Lesson 32 Lesson 33 Lesson 34 Lesson title How did Sinn Fein develop into the major Irish Republican group after the Easter Rising? Aims: To examine the key developments in Sinn Fein after Lesson title Was the Government of Ireland Act a real achievement for the Irish? Aims: To examine the reasons behind the Government of Ireland Act. To assess its impact. Lesson title What were the results of the Anglo-Irish War? Aims: To examine the events of the Anglo-Irish War. To assess the impact of the A-I War and the resulting treaty. Starter Show the pie chart without the detail of which group represents which chunk. Ask then to state which party they think got which number of votes. Then match the party with the votes and see if they were right. Starter Prior to the lesson cut up the prose sheet about Eamon de Valera into two pieces. Students are given one of the pieces (spread them around the room). Students are to use the sheet to answer the questions on the OHT. However, they will not be able to answer the questions unless they have both sides of the sheet. Apply this to what Nationalists felt about the Government of Ireland Act splitting Ireland up made no sense. Starter OHT Answers without Questions. Show students the answers and they have to decide what the questions are. Homework w/s How successful was the Anglo-Irish Treaty in solving the problems Ireland faced? 1 Main Activities Students read through the key developments in the rise of Sinn Fein. They then apply the labels to each topic and assess how it would have increased support for Sinn Fein. Finally they must put the reasons in an order of importance which reason was the most important down to which was the least. Finally they must justify their top choice. Main Activities Students use the textbook to fill out what the Government of Ireland Act meant for Northern and Southern Ireland. Main Activities Give out the information packs. Students use the information in the booklets to decide what they think the treaty should look like. Show the real treaty and assess how similar they are. Plenary Discuss the order of importance get one student to order the A4 cards into their order of importance and get them to justify their top reason. Ask students who have a different order to reorder the cards and state why they have a different order. Plenary Students express how they feel each side would have reacted to the Act and why (second side of the worksheet). Plenary Now ask the students to decide what they think the reaction of Collins and De Valera to the Treaty. Show the OHT and see how far they are right. Materials w/s The Rise of Sinn Fein OHT election results A4 cards Key Development Headings. Materials Information sheet Eamon de Valera 1 w/s Government of Ireland Act. OHT de Valera Questions Materials w/b The Anglo-Irish War. OHT 1 Answers without Questions OHT 2 For and Against the Treaty OHT 3 Anglo-Irish Treaty. w/s How successful was the Anglo-Irish Treaty in solving the problems Ireland faced? Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 2

3 How did Sinn Fein develop into the major Irish Republican groups after the Easter Rising? Lesson 32 - w/s Key reasons for the rise of Sinn Fein Reason 1: From the 1880s onwards many Irish people began to take a great interest in Irish history, language and culture. They felt that British rule was trying to wipe out all traces of Irish culture. This led to the Gaelic Revival. The Gaelic League published English and Irish works, old and new. The Gaelic Athletic Association re-established traditional sports like Gaelic football and hurling. Reason 2: In 1912, thanks to divisions in British politics, Redmond s IPP had managed to get Home Rule high on the political agenda and by 1914 a Home Rule Act was actually on the Statute Book. However, opposition from Ulster and England led Redmond to agree to the Partition of Ireland and a freeze on Home Rule. Worse still, when war broke out in 1914 Redmond encouraged Irishmen to join up in the British Army! Reason 3: Many radical Nationalists, people like Padraig Pearse, Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins, had studied their Irish history. However, it was often a one-sided view. The older generation of Nationalists, and the top ranks of the Catholic Church, came to be seen as betrayers of Parnell. In this history, of course, everything about the British connection was bad for Ireland. These men revitalised the IRB. They infiltrated the cultural organisations and especially the Volunteers, creating a force within a force. Why would this have led to increased support for Sinn Fein? Order of importance Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 3

4 Reason 4: Home Rule was defeated in 1886 and When it looked like becoming law in 1912 Ulster again erupted in protest, and it seemed much of Great Britain supported the Ulster Unionists. Under Sir Edward Carson, Loyalists signed the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant vowing to resist the re-establishment of an Irish Parliament. They imported weapons from Germany and formed the large and disciplined Ulster Volunteer Force. Nationalists in the south formed the Irish Volunteers. By 1914 Ireland was on the verge of Civil War which only WW1 prevented. Reason 5: Poverty, hardship and injustice did not just suddenly appear during the early twentieth century. However, across Britain and Ireland working-class movements were growing. There were bitter disputes in all parts of Britain, including a vicious Dock Strike in Dublin in The socialist leader James Connolly created the Irish Citizen Army to protect strikers and demonstrators. Reason 6: By the spring of 1916 leading IRB figures were concerned. The Nationalist movement had lost is momentum and all Ireland was focussed on the Great War. Hence, the Easter Rising took place and an Irish Republic had been declared. The British were now an occupying invader. Reason 7: Soon after the Rising the leaders were executed by the British. Many Irish people were appalled. How could they execute Irishmen for treason to a foreign power? It was a bad error and in 1918 a worse one followed. The Government announced plans to introduce conscription into Ireland. Sinn Fein led a storm of protest and the Government dropped the idea. Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 4

5 Reason 8: In April 1917 America joined the war on the side of the allies. The President, Wilson, put pressure on the British for an solution to the Irish problem. As a result of this pressure, Lloyd George, then Prime Minister, released the Irish prisoners held in British prisons. These tended to be more revolutionary characters. Reason 9: In July 1917 an Irish Convention was held. Representatives from the British Government and all parties in Ireland were supposed to attend. However, Sinn Fein boycotted the Convention. The IPP had hoped that the Convention would lead to an immediate Home Rule settlement. But the Convention left the IPP standing alone and without new ideas. Reason 10: In July 1917 Eamon de Valera was elected as Sinn Fein MP for East Clare. He then succeeded Arthur Griffith as President of Sinn Fein in October Task 1 Apply the labels below to one of the paragraphs above. A feeling of betrayal Actions of the British Government Socialism The Easter Rising The Gaelic Revival Eamon de Valera The actions of the Unionists The Irish Convention The revival of the IRB The influence of America Task 2 For each of the reasons explain why it would have led to increased support for Sinn Fein. Task 3 Give each reason a place in an order of importance from one to ten where one is the most important reason why Sinn Fein rose to power and 10 is the least important. Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 5

6 Task 4 In the space provided below explain why you have chosen the reason you have given 1 to as the most important reason why Sinn Fein rose to power. The position of Sinn Fein in 1918: c Sinn Fein clubs around Ireland. About 250,000 Sinn Fein members. There was a changing opinion amongst the Irish swinging in favour of Sinn Fein. In April 1918 Arthur Griffith was elected in East Cavan. The response was to arrest Republican leaders. However, the result of this was a strengthening of Sinn Fein support. They fought the 1918 General Election based on four principles: R Independent, united Irish Republic; R Destruction of English power in Ireland; R Opposition of any party opposed to complete independence; R The Ulster problem was to be ignored. They won 73 seats (the IPP won 6) and refused to sit in Westminster, instead summoning all of its MPs to Dublin on 21 January 1919 setting themselves up as the Parliament of the Irish Republic, or Dail Eireann. The Dail issued a Declaration of Independence. Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 6

7 General election in Ireland, 1918 Lesson 32 - OHT Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 7

8 Key development headings Lesson 32 - cards A feeling of betrayal Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 8

9 Actions of the British Government Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 9

10 Socialism Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 10

11 The Easter Rising Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 11

12 The Gaelic Revival Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 12

13 Eamon de Valera Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 13

14 The actions of the Unionists Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 14

15 The Irish Convention Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 15

16 The revival of the IRB Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 16

17 The influence of America Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 17

18 Eamon de Valera ( ) Lesson 33 - information sheet Eamon de Valera was born in Manhattan, New York, on 14th October His father was Juan de Valera, a Spaniard who had studied to be a sculptor but due to ill-health he had reverted to teaching music. In September 1881, Juan de Valera had married Kate Coll from Knockmore, near Bruree, Co. Limerick, a young girl who had emigrated to America two years earlier. His father died when de Valera was only two years old and his mother decided that her son would be better off at home in Ireland. She sent him to be reared by his grandmother, Elizabeth Coll, who lived in a labourer's cottage at Knockmore. De Valera attended the national school at Bruree and from there went to the Christian Brother's School at Charleville. He walked the seven miles there and back everyday since the Coll's could not afford a bicycle. At 16, he won a scholarship to Blackrock College, Co. Dublin. He went on to become a professor of mathematics and lectured part-time at Maynooth and various Dublin colleges. At school and later he was a keen rugby player. In 1908, he joined the Gaelic League, the beginning of his life-long devotion to Irish. One of his teachers was Sinead Flanagan, herself a teacher and four years his senior. They fell in love and were married in January De Valera joined the Irish Volunteers at their first meeting in He took part in the landing of guns from the Asgard in July He commanded the Boland's Mills garrison during the 1916 rising. After the surrender he was sentenced to death, but later it was decided to sentence him to life imprisonment instead. In prison, de Valera began to show his leadership qualities. De Valera was released from prison in June 1917 and was elected Sinn Fein deputy for East Clare. At the Sinn Fein Ard-Fheis in October 1917, de Valera was elected President of the party and at the end of the same month he was elected President of the Irish Volunteers. When the British Government proposed to extend conscription to Ireland in early 1918, de Valera led the successful opposition to this proposal. On 17 May 1918, De Valera was arrested and deported for internment to England, where he was to remain up to February While he was in jail he was elected for East Clare in the general election. On 21 January 1919, the assembled deputies met in the Mansion House, Dublin, and formally set up the Government for the Irish Republic. After his escape from Lincoln Jail on 3 February 1919, de Valera returned briefly to Ireland and was elected President of the Dail. Early in June 1919, he travelled to the U.S.A. to seek financial and political support for an independent Ireland. He returned to Ireland in December 1920 to take his place as the President of Ireland. From the very start the Dail had to face a number of serious problems, the lack of experience of the new government. The War of Independence was raging at this time with the regular British forces being assisted by the "Black and Tans". The "Black and Tans" were ex-army men brought into Ireland to assist the British in the War of Independence. A truce was declared on 11 July and negotiations were opened with the English Prime Minister, Lloyd George, and his government leading up to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December The Treaty was accepted in the Dail, 64 in favour and 57 against. Arthur Griffith was elected President in the place of de Valera. Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 18

19 Was the Government of Ireland Act a real achievement for the Irish? Lesson 33 - w/s Ireland became a part of the political agenda again in 1918 because: a. Sinn Fein won 73 seats in the 1918 General Election. b. The Home Rule Act of 1914 was only postponed until after the War. c. The Treaty of Versailles was centred around national self-determination - nations should govern themselves. Hence, the outcome of all of this was the Government of Ireland Act of Impact on Northern Ireland Impact on Southern Ireland Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 19

20 How would each side have reacted to the Government of Ireland Act? Sinn Fein Home Rulers Ulster Unionists Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 20

21 Eamon de Valera: questions Lesson 33 - OHT Where and when was de Valera born? What did he do in 1908? Which area did he command during the 1916 Easter Rising? Where was de Valera when he was elected for East Clare? What position did he hold when he returned to Ireland in 1920? Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 21

22 The Anglo-Irish War, Lesson 34 - w/b Beginning of 1919 IRA, led by Collins, began a campaign of murder and harassment directed at British police and soldiers. Britain struggled to know how to deal with this Lloyd George saw the IRA as a tiny murder gang, therefore they should not be treated as combatants. For a time, the British refused to see a state war was taking place. The government eventually resorted to repression: Sinn Fein and IRA was made illegal; The Dail was banned: Special powers of imprisonment, arrest and arms control were introduced; Tried to ban revolutionary publications. This only antagonised the civilian population. British relied on the police to deal with trouble but the RIC was undermanned and demoralised by the IRA s murder campaign (176 policemen were killed in 1920, compared to 54 soldiers). The police were strengthened by the introduction of the Black and Tans tough ex-soldiers. They were also reinforced by the Auxiliaries ex-army officers who acted as an ill-disciplined military force. IRA widened its campaign to include civilians who were seen as enemies. The Black and Tans responded in kind they acted unofficially, but their actions were condoned by the British government although there was press opposition. Autumn of 1920 British acknowledged they were engaged in a war. It applied its regular troops and introduced martial law in the south. This last stage of the war was one of terror, counter-terror, ambush and atrocities and the intimidation and murder of civilians. Bloody Sunday 21st November 1920, Dublin 11 English civilians were shot dead by the IRA (believed to be British spies). The Black and Tans invaded a sports ground Croke Park and fired indiscriminately killing 12 dead and 60 wounded. By 1921 the war was clearly not going to be won by either side. Between January 1st and July 1921 c.752 men and women were killed and 866 wounded. The Truce End of 1920 public opinion swinging against what was happening in Ireland. Lloyd George was told it would take a further 100,000 soldiers to crush the Irish he knew the public would not support this. Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 22

23 Hence, December 1920 began to test the waters and see if the Irish would accept a peace settlement: tried to gauge de Valera s opinion through the Roman Catholic clergy failed. There was also the question of how southern Ireland was to be ruled Sinn Fein would not accept Home Rule settlement, so the only options left were all-out war and military rule or peace and negotiations. The first option was impossible! More importantly, the success of Home Rule in Northern Ireland meant that that problem had been dealt with and was not a complication for a treaty with Sinn Fein. Peace came suddenly some say it was the words spoken by King George V when he opened the Northern Ireland parliament asking Irish people to join together the reach for peace. But what moved de Valera and Collins was the fact that too many men had died and the IRA was exhausted. They could only have carried on for another 3 weeks. Also, they accepted that Lloyd George was genuinely seeking a solution. Both sides agreed to a truce on 11th July Sinn Fein were represented by Griffith and Collins and three others. They were given the authority to sign a Treaty with Britain. However, de Valera stopped in Ireland and wished every draft of the Treaty to be sent to Ireland to be submitted to the government before it was signed. Task There were three areas of the Treaty which were discussed: A. British security and defence in Ireland. B. Ulster C. The powers of the new Irish State. You must decide what you think the Treaty will have looked like based on both the attitudes of Sinn Fein and the British government. Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 23

24 What we think the Treaty should look like. Security and defence Ulster Powers of the new Irish state The actual Anglo-Irish Treaty Security and defence Ulster Powers of the new Irish state Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 24 Lesson 34 - w/b (A-I War)

25 Arguments for & against the Treaty Why and how would Collins, having been a delegate, justify the Treaty? What would de Valera have argued against in the Treaty? Collins actual justifications. De Valera s actual thoughts. Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 25 Lesson 34 - w/b (A-I War)

26 If these are the answers, what are the questions? Michael Collins 11 English civilians/british Intelligence Officers IRA Lesson 34 - OHT 1 Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 26

27 Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921 Security and Defence - Britain was to have 3 naval bases in Ireland. Ulster - Would be able to opt out of the Treaty so could end up being partitioned permanently. - A Boundary Commission would be set up to examine the boundaries of Ulster and make recommendations. The powers of the new Irish state - Southern Ireland would have dominion status granted Ireland the same powers as Canada and other Dominions within the Empire. This was not independence. This meant full control of domestic affairs, membership of the Empire and the Irish would have to swear allegiance to the Crown. - Oath of allegiance was watered down. Lesson 34 - OHT 2 Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 27

28 Arguments for & against the Treaty Northern Ireland and Its Neighbours since 1920 by S. Gillespie & G. Jones, Hodder & Stoughton, X, p. 23 Lesson 34 - OHT 3 Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 28

29 How successful was the Anglo-Irish Treaty in solving the problems Ireland faced? Read pages of the textbook, Adelman, Great Britain and the Irish Question, and find examples for the boxes below. You may not find examples for every box. See if you can think of your own answers too. Short-term success Long-term success Short-term failure Long-term failure Lesson 34 - w/s (Homework) Hillyard, Ireland : Topic 10B, 29