JC-Learn History Notes Ireland in the 20th Century 1 P a g e
Ireland in the 20 th Century: Irish Politics Because of the Act of Union all decisions in Ireland were made by the Parliament in Westminster, London. Nationalists = Wanted more Independence for Ireland. Unionists = Wanted to remain under the control of Britain. (Mainly Ulster) Republicans = Wanted complete Independence and were willing to use force. Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA): English games and culture were being encouraged in Ireland. The GAA was set up in 1844 by Michael Cusack and Maurice Davin to promote Gaelic games + establish new clubs. The Gaelic League 1893 was set up by Douglas Hyde to halt the spread of the English language. To promote Irish they. 1. Made an Irish newspaper called An Claidheamh Solas. 2. Sent Timirí (Travelling teachers) around Ireland. 3. Made St Patricks day a national holiday and held lots of festivals. Both organisations were infiltrated by IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood) members to secretly gain support. 1913 Dublin Lockout: There were lots of slums, unemployment and low wages in Dublin. 1908 Jim Larkin set up ITGWU (Irish transport & general workers union) to improve the conditions and wages of workers. o It soon had over 10 000 members. William Martin Murphy who owned lots of businesses in Dublin (EG. Tramway) opposed ITGWU and demanded his workers leave the organisation or they would be fired. Larkin called a strike and Murphy locked his workers out of the factories for 5 months British trade unions financially helped workers during this time. Eventually they gave up, left ITGWU and returned to work. Larkin moved to America but James Connolly who was the leader of the ITGWU branch in Belfast set up the Labour Party to support workers. Irish Citizen Army were set up to protect workers from Police and gangs hired by employers. o Connolly wanted a socialist revolution. 2 P a g e
Home Rule = The Irish pass laws on health, education and agriculture etc. but Westminster decide on foreign affairs and trade Britain: Liberals (Wigs) led by Herbert Asquith supported Home Rule in Ireland. Conservatives (Tories) led by Andrew Bonar Law opposed Home Rule. 1910 Election: Liberal Party = 273 votes. Conservatives = 252 votes. Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) = 84 votes. Labour Party = 42 votes. Unionist Party = 19 votes. Asquith promised Home Rule in Ireland if IPP party would support them in government, John Redmond (IPP leader) agreed. Parliament Act 1911 was passed meaning the House of Lords could only Veto a bill twice before it had to be allowed. 1912 the Home Rule bill was passed, and even though the House of Lords didn t want this, the new law meant that Ireland had to receive Home Rule by law in 1914. Unionist Reaction: Edward Carson got 400 000 Unionists to sign a document called the Solemn League and Covenant in Sep 1912 saying that they would never accept Home Rule. Carson and James Craig encouraged the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) to oppose Home Rule with force soon had 100 000 members. They smuggled 24 600 rifles and 3 million tonnes of ammo into Ireland, Bonar Law and the conservatives supported them. Nationalist Reaction: They were happy about the prospect of Home Rule but the Unionists concerned. 1919 Eoin Mac Neil set up the Irish National Volunteers. They had 160 000 members but failed to smuggle guns at Howth so they only had 900 rifles and 25 000 rounds of ammo. 3 P a g e
Partition: Asquith tried to compromise with Carson and Redmond who took over after Mac Neil. He proposed a Partition To divide Ireland in half. They couldn t agree as Carson wanted 6 counties and Redmond thought they should only get the 4 counties with Unionist majorities. WW1: When Germany invaded Belgium in 1914 Home Rule was postponed. Most Ulster and National volunteers fought against Germany, these were called the National Volunteers. Eoin Mac Neil and 10 000 Irish Volunteers refused to help the British army. 1916: While Britain were at war, it was the perfect time for a rebellion. In 1915 a 5 man military council was set up Pádraig Pearse, Thomas Clarke, Seán MacDiarmada, Joseph Plunkett, Eamonn Ceannt, they began planning a rebellion. They discovered that James Connolly and the Irish Citizen Army were also planning a rebellion and they told them about their plans for 1916. o Together they decided that it would take place on 23 April 1916. They needed to persuade MacNeil to allow the Irish volunteers to join their rebellion. They Tricked MacNeil, Plunkett wrote the Castle Document to him pretending to be from the British saying that his army are illegal and that they will be arrested. o He then agreed to join the rebellion. The IRB asked for German support and they offered a shipload of ammo. Roger Casement was sent to bring the ship to Ireland, but in April his ship, the Aud was captured by the British at Kerry. MacNeil found out about the Aud and that the letter was fake and cancelled his involvement with the rebellion. He put a notice in the newspaper telling his men it was cancelled. With no guns or Irish volunteers there was little hope but the IRB thought that their Blood Sacrifices (Heroic Deaths) would inspire future generations. 4 P a g e
Easter Rising: Military council decided the uprising would be on Easter Monday. 1500 IRB and Citizen Army members took key buildings in Dublin (Four courts, GPO, Jacobs factory etc.) The leaders were in the GPO on Sackville Street and Pardraig Pearse read out the Proclamation of the Irish Republic there. Britain only had 400 troops in Ireland but soon outnumbered the Irish 20:1. A gunship called the Helga shelled the GPO and on the 29 April Pearse surrendered. 64 rebels, 132 British troops and 230 civilians were killed and most of Sackville Street was destroyed. The civilians were angry and jeered the Republicans going to prison. 3000 Irish were arrested and 90 were sentenced to death. 3-12 May 15 were shot by Firing Squad including all the IRB members, and James Connolly was executed while sitting down couldn t walk. This turned the Public against the British. Those sent to death went to Internment Camps but were released when Britain saw the Irish reaction. Éamonn De Velera, Michael Collins and others were allowed return home now with even more determination than before (Violence). Sinn Féin: Founded by Arthur Griffith 1905 wanted to get full independence peacefully. After 1916 their popularity grew rapidly: 1) Griffith gained support from IRB leaders in internment camps. 2) Griffith resigned 1919 and Griffith took over. 3) 1918 Britain wanted conscription in Ireland, Sinn Féin along with other parties stopped this. 4) Britain arrested Griffith and De Velera as they thought they were planning a rebellion, this gave them more national support. 1918 General Election: First election since before the war, women could now vote. Sinn Fein got 73 seats and IPP only got 7 seats. 5 P a g e
Dail Éireann: 1918 Sinn Fein didn t go Westminster and on 21 January 1919 Dáil Eireann was set up however many Td s were still in prison. The 27 Td s who weren t in prison elected Cathal Brugha as president. 1919 Michael Collins got De Velera to escape from Lincoln Jail. On the second meeting 1 April 1919, De Velera was voted president and Arthur Griffith as vice president. Sinn Fein Government in Ireland (1919) Raised $4 million from relatives in America and 300 000 from the Irish. Sinn Fein law courts were created. Irish volunteers acted as police instead of RIC. They had too much support and Britain declared them illegal in 1919. The majority of both sides were prepared for violence. 2 RIC officers were killed in Tipperary by Irish Volunteers who were now known as the IRA, this wasn t authorised by the Dáil. This marked the beginning of the war. IRA: Michael Collins, the leader, used spies all over the country to plan attacks on the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). They used guerrilla warfare and didn t have uniforms so they could hide. o Known as the Flying Columns as they were so quick. The squad (Collins elite team) killed anyone who was thought to be a British spy/informant. British Forces: In 1920, unemployed WW1 fighters were sent to Ireland to stop the flying columns (Known as Black & Tans because of their mix and matched khaki and RIC uniforms). Ex-army officers who were sent to Ireland were known as Auxiliaries. End of 1920, there were 40 000 British in Ireland. In 1920, 182 British were killed by the IRA, they reacted by.. Putting curfews on towns arresting anyone out past 10pm. Searched houses for guns and IRA members. Scared and terrorised locals. 6 P a g e
Main Events 1919-1921: 1) Terence McSweeney (Cork Sinn Fein Leader) was imprisoned and died after a 73 day hunger strike. 2) Nov 1920, Collins squad killed 11 British secret service members at the same time, Britain killed 12 civilians at Croke Park in retaliation they claimed to have heard gun shots in the stadium. 3) Dec 1920, the Flying Columns ambushed auxiliaries in Kilmichael, Cork. The next week the Black & Tans burned down the centre of Cork. Truce Agreed: Summer 1921 IRA ran out of ammo while at the same time America criticised Britain for their violence. 2000 British and 752 IRA were killed during the war. Truce was declared on 11 July 1921. The Negotiations: David Lloyd George passed Government of Ireland Act 1920. This meant Ireland was divided, Unionists got a 6 county Northern Ireland with a Parliament, the other 26 counties got Home Rule (James Craig became the first Prime Minister). Sinn Fein wanted more and Griffith, Collins, Barton, Duggan & Gavin Duffy went to London to negotiate. De Velera stayed as decisions were to be made through him and he didn t want them to be pressured in to anything. The Irish delegates wanted Full Independence and a 32 County Ireland. Britain wanted Ireland to remain in their Commonwealth and for Ireland to be divided into North and South. After 2 months negotiating Lloyd George said that if they didn t sign the treaty there would be an immediate and terrible war. On the 6 th December 1921 it was signed. The Treaty: 1. Southern Ireland was to be called the Irish Free State. 2. Ireland would have some control, but not be called a Republic. 3. It would remain in the British Commonwealth and Td s had to swear an oath of Allegiance to the King. 4. Britain owned Lough Swilly, Queenstown and Berehaven naval ports. 5. Northern Ireland remained in the U.K. 7 P a g e
6. The Boundary Commission would decide where the North and South border would be placed. Irish Reaction: Arguments for: Ireland had more freedom than they would have with Home Rule. It was Freedom to achieve Freedom. IRA had no resources left anyway. Arguments Against: (De Velera and Brugha) It wasn t free as the British king was still head of the state. Td s could not be loyal to the Republic if they swore the oath. Too many people had died in the quest for full Independence to accept any less. Dáil Vote on The Treaty 7 Jan 1921: For = 64 votes Against = 57 votes. De Velera resigned as president in protest and Griffith was elected instead and Collins as his deputy. The Irish Free State: It was led by Arthur Griffith. British troops left Ireland. The Treaty divided Sinn Fein into Pro & Anti treaty, it also divided IRA into regulars (Pro) and irregulars (anti). April 1922, Rory O Connor and the Irregulars occupied the four courts and other buildings in protest for accepting the treaty. Irish General Election June 1922: Pro-Treaty Sinn Fein = 58 seats. Anti-Treaty Sinn Fein =35 seats. Others (All pro-treaty) = 35 seats. Irregulars assassinated Henry Wilson (British Unionist) and kidnapped General O Connor from the Free State Army. 28 June Collins was forced to react and he attacked the 4 courts. 8 P a g e
Civil War: After 2 days the irregulars in the 4 courts surrendered but fighting continued around O Connell street until the Irregulars were defeated on 5 July. 64 died including Cathal Brugha. Harry Boland was shot in Skerries by Free State soldiers. Irregulars were low on ammo and retreated toward Munster. By 12 August they had lost Limerick and Galway. Collins was ambushed and killed in Béal na mbláth, Cork. Both sides mourned his death. William T Cosgrave replaced Griifth as leader of Free State. Special Powers Act = Could arrest and try irregulars for new offences. With this and their leader Liam Lynch dying, De Velera and Frank Aiken agreed a ceasefire in May 1923. Results of Civil War: 927 were killed and 12 000 anti-treaty soldiers were put in prison. The country and politics were deeply divided, even between family and friends. There was 30 million in damage. Cumann na nagaedhael: Pro-treaty supporters formed Cumann na ngaedhael and Anti-treaty kept Sinn Féin. Wiliam T Cosgrave and Kevin O Higgins (Minister for Justice) were the leaders, they wanted to create a new state. Achievements: 1) They created a new Constitution and Oireachtas Dail Eireann and the Seaned. Sinn Féin refused to attend these houses of parliament because they wouldn t swear the Oath of Allegiance. 2) New Police Force O Higgins set up an unarmed force called An Garda Siochána. 3) Irish versions of currency were issued. 4) They installed the rule that Gaeilge had to be taught in schools. Problems for Cumann na ngaedhael: 1) Army Mutiny O Higgins reduced the size of the army from 60-20 000 and offered them jobs as Garda or pensions. 9 P a g e
Army officers who didn t like this demanded that the government change its plans, this was seen as muting and they were arrested. 2) Law & Order IRA were still a threat and they passes Public Safety Acts in 1923 + 1924 meaning they could arrest and imprison IRA members 3) 1927 3 IRA members assassinated O Higgins which resulted in even further sanctions. 4) Boundary Commission were reluctant to give T Cosgrave what he wanted (Tyrone, Fermanagh and Derry City) but he had more important things to be dealing with so the border remained as it was. The Economy: Very little industry Government focused on Agriculture. Agricultural Credit Corporation (ACC) gave loans to farmers to improve their produce and tax cuts encouraged exports. 1929 Shannon Scheme Hydroelectric power station created jobs. Carlo Sugar Company was set up. Electricity supply board (ESB) established in 1927. However, 50% of people still relied on agriculture and 20 000 people were emigrating every year. Political Developments: In the 1923 election, Sinn Fein still contested even though they refused to recognise the Free State. o Cumann na ngaedhael = 63 seats. o Sinn Fein = 44 seats. o Labour Party = 14 seats. Labour was the main opposition as Sinn Fein didn t attend the Dail. 1926 DeVelera proposed to the Sinn Féin Ardfheis that the party could take its seats if the oath was removed. It got rejected, DeVelera resigned from Sinn Fein and established Fianna Fáil along with some other Sinn Fein members. After O Higgins dies 1927, Cosgrave introduced the Electoral Amendment Act which meant Td s had to take the Oath or give up their seats. Fianna Fáil took the Oath. Cumann na ngaedhael became unpopular from 1927-1932: o Worldwide depression caused unemployment. o The country still had little industry. o Fianna Fail were good organisers and gained support. 10 P a g e
11 P a g e o They reduced teacher s salaries to save money. o They were blamed for unpopular Public Safety Acts. 1932 February Election: Fianna Fáil = 72 seats. Cumann na ngaedhael = 56 seats. Labour = 7 seats Others = 18 seats. Fianna Fail didn t get a majority but Labour agreed to support them in Government. De Velera immediately aimed to. o Dismantle the Treaty. o Put Tariffs on imported goods to encourage people to buy Irish goods. o Build new houses for those living in slums. o Give better pensions to poor people. Relationship with Britain: 1931 Britain passed the Statue of Westminster Act = Any country in the British commonwealth could pass any laws they wanted without British interference. De Velera officially abolished the Oath in May 1933. He ignored the British Governor General (James McNeil) and he resigned in protest, his position was then abolished. The Seaned protested about the Governor General so he abolished the Seaned too. When King Edward VIII resigned to marry a divorced woman, De Velera passed the External Relations Act 1936 = Removed all references to the British monarch in the Irish Constitution. Bunreacht na héireann: This was the new Irish Constitution passed in 1937. It said that 1. The name of the county is Éire or Ireland. 2. Irish is the first official language. 3. They had control over all of the island of Ireland (Articled 2 & 3 claim this). 4. The head of the country is the President who is elected directly by the people. 5. The Prime Minister is called the Taoiseach.
The Army Comrades Association (ACA) / Blueshirts: When De Velera released IRA prisoners it brought back tension in Ireland. The ACA was set up in 1932, originally to campaign for army pensioners but they also offered protection from the IRA at Cumann na ngaedhael meetings. When Eoin O Connor, the head of an Garda Siochána was dismissed by De Velera he became the leader of the ACA. o They were like fascists Called blueshirts, were anti-communist and did marches. o O Duffy renamed the ACA the National Guard. They had a march near Dublin, but DeVelera feared it would be like Mussolini in Italy so he banned them. T Cosgrave felt that De Velera was being too easy on the old IRA members and so he joined up with the National Guard creating Fine Gael, Cosgrave took over as the leader. 1936 O Duffy independently led 600 blueshirts to fight for General Franco in Spain. De Velera banned the IRA in 1936 and imprisoned over 500 members after they began a bombing campaign in Britain. The Economic War: In the 1800 s Britain lended money to Irish farmers, repayments of these loans were called Land Annuities. De Velera stopped paying these loans of over 3 million in 1932. Britain then placed a 20% Tariff on Irish goods. 83% of Irelands exports at the time were to Britain. De Velera placed a 5% tariff on British goods. This increased the cost of 65% of goods in Ireland. This war ended in 1938 with the Anglo-Irish Agreement: 1. Land annuities were abolished and Ireland payed a once off fee of 10 million to Britain. 2. Both Tariffs were reduced. 3. Ports were returned to Ireland (Wanted to keep Ireland on their side as WW2 was approaching). Results: 12 P a g e
1. Irish cattle sales to Britain went down by 33%. 2. Huge agricultural unemployment but more industry success. 3. 1931-1938, 55 000 more people were employed in industry, but this was undermined by the amount of emigrations. The Emergency (WW2): Ireland remained neutral during the war because. 1. They didn t want to fight alongside Britain while they still partitioned. 2. Showed that Ireland has a different independent policy than Britain. 3. It could potentially cause huge Economic damage. Emergency Power Act 1939 was passed to ensure neutrality: o They could sensor all newspapers and private letters. o Could order farmers to grow crops to feed the population. o Could imprison any threats to neutrality. o Could censor weather forecasts in case they helped another country to plan bombings etc. Threat to Ireland: (Vulnerable) Ireland was too far for Germany to bomb. But in May 194134 people were killed in bombings in the North Strand, Dublin because Ireland sent fire engines to help Northern Ireland. The biggest threat to Ireland was from England but their Pro-British form of neutrality prevented any British attacks: o Irish and British military leaders met to discuss what to do if Germany attacked. o They gave weather forecasts to Britain. o When pilots landed in Ireland, if they were axis they were killed but if they were British they were released. o Belfast was bombed twice and both times Ireland sent fire engines up. o 43 000 Irish joined the British army. o The Irish army went from 19000-420000 in case of any attacks. o LDF (Local Defense Force) of 148 000 members was set up but with only basic training and they were poorly armed. Shortages: There was a low supply of food and raw materials, Sean Lemass was the Minister of Supplies. Lemass established Irish Shipping Limited to import food from abroad, some of the boats were sunk by German U-boats. 13 P a g e
Ration books were introduced to ensure that everyone got equal amounts of tea, flour and sugar etc. Gas was rationed and Glimmer-men were employed to make sure that people didn t use more than their share of gas & electricity. Compulsory Tillage Scheme= Farmers were forced to grow wheat and the production doubled. Petrol was only available to Doctors and Priests. Coal was scarce so they began using turf, this meant coal and petrol factories closed and people emigrated. Results of Emergency: 1. Ireland avoided destruction and life was basically the same as before. 2. Remaining neutral showed freedom from Britain. 3. Economic suffering, industries had to recover and rationing continued for years after. 4. Northern Ireland helped Britain so they would be more likely to be allowed stay part of the U.K. 14 P a g e