22 February 2012: Irish War of Independence and Secession from Britain

When discussing the Irish War of Independence, it is important to remember the conditions that the people were living under. The people were not happy because of being under British rule. They demanded home rule but the British were loathe to give up the power and control they had in Ireland. These circumstances led to certain events that took place because of the Irish people wanting to do something about the British refusing to allow them to control their own country. The first notable event was the Home Rule Crisis. This was characterized by the British Government granting home rule in 1912 but then suspending it because of the First World War. Ireland was split as to whether or not they should be involved in the war. As a result, some of who were called the Irish Volunteers supported the British while others supported the idea of Home Rule in Ireland. The Irish Republican Brotherhood, a faction in the volunteer movement, prepared to conduct a revolt against British rule in Ireland. The plan for revolt was realized in the next significant event, the Easter Rising of 1916. This is generally considered the start of the Irish Republic. This revolt was staged mainly in Dublin where over 400 people died. The whole rising lasted about one week, but some of the events that occurred after the rising was quelled caused widespread disdain for the British. Irish leaders of the Easter Rising were executed. News of this action spread across Ireland and the Irish people almost unanimously desired alienation from Britain.

The next significant event that occurred was The First Dáil. In the 1918 general election, Irish voters showed their disapproval of British rule and policy by taking 70% of the seats. It was determined that an Irish Parliament (known as The First Dáil) would be set up. The Dáil reaffirmed the 1916 declaration and established a Declaration of Independence. The also issued a message to the free nations of the world that stated that there was an "existing state of war, between Ireland and England." The Irish Volunteers were reconstituted as the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Between the Easter Rising of 1916 and the start of the Irish War of Independence in 1919, there were several instances where fighting broke out and Irish civilians were wounded, killed or arrested and British troops were arrested. One event that is widely considered the beginning of the War of Independence was when two IRA members, who were acting totally independently from any governing body, shot and killed two Royal Irish Constabulary officers, who were escorting explosives. These men acted on their own accord to essentially start a war. This is just a very basic overview of some of the events that took place leading up to the Irish War of Independence. Next week, I will discuss the divisions within Ireland and the problems these divisions caused. 

"Birth of the Irish Republic"