Ireland 1916-23 Struggle For Independence

Question 1

Preparations for the Rising

Answer 1

Home Rule was on hold. The IRB thought “Britain’s difficulty is Irelands opportunity.
Miltary council established
Sir Rodger Casement brought ammo from Germany
James Connolly + Irish Citizen Army recruited
Irish volenteers tricked into joining

Question 2

Members of the military council

Answer 2

Thomas Clarke
Seán Mac Diarmada
Pádraig Pearse
Joseph Plunkett
Éamonn Ceannt
Thomas McDonagh

Question 3

Rising - Plans go wrong

Answer 3

Sír Rodger Casement + arms captured castle document forgery revealed
Rising goes ahead

Question 4

Rising goes ahead

Answer 4

Rising went ahead because British wouldn’t expect it. Bank Holiday meant less soldiers. Rising was confined to the capital.
Pearse read the proclamation of the Irish Republic outside the GPO

Question 5

The Rising - rebel occupies locations

Answer 5

GPO
Bolands Mill
Jacobs Factory
4 courts
South Dublin Union
Medincity Institution
Stephen’s Green
Royal College of Surgeons

Question 6

Britain’s response

Answer 6

Extra soldiers brought in from the Curragh Barracks. On Wednesday the Helga came up the liffey + shelled the GPO
Mount Street Bridge, 13 rebels held up 1,750 soldiers for hours + killed/wounded 231
There were high civilian deaths so on Sat Elizabeth O’Farrell delivered Pearse’s surrender

Question 7

Why the Rising failed

Answer 7

Small no. of fighters w/ poor weapons/ammo
Confusion leading to the rising
British had better resources
Rebels based in easily surroundable positions
Civilians didn’t realise the significance
It wasnt the countrywide rebellion intended

Question 8

Consequences of the rising

Answer 8

500 dead, 2,500 injured
Damage to buildings to buildings + property
3,000 people sent to British prisons
90 leaders of the Rising were killed

Question 9

Rise of Sinn Féin

Answer 9

Sinn Féin was given credit for the Rising
People were angered by the executions + didn’t think Home Rule was enough
Sinn Féin changed its aim to international recognition of an independent ROI
Éamon de Valera (only surviving member of the military council) took over Sinn Féin
German plot

Question 10

The 1st Dáil

Answer 10

In 1918 Sinn Féin decided to abstain from Westminster+form the Dáil
The Dáil was founded in the Mansion House, Dawson St on 21/1/1918
It was named Dáil Éireann + issuded a Declaration of Independence

Question 11

Sinn Féin’s changes

Answer 11

Gained control of local government
Fodned Dáil courts
Organised loans
Rejected Government of Ireland Act

Question 12

Outbreak of the war of independence

Answer 12

Began 21/1/1919 (day of the 1st Dáil)
2 RIC constables killed by Irish volenteers
Irish Volenteers became the IRA + Irelands official army

Question 13

War of independence - IRA methods

Answer 13

The IRA used guerrilla warfare.
Michael Collins made an intelligence organisation of spies called the ‘squad’ to kill British spies + detectives
Local until called flying Collins took part in large scale ambushes, raided police stations.

Question 14

War of independence - British methods

Answer 14

Established Black + Tans - early 1920
Recruited ruthless ex-army member called auxiliaries
Terrible reprisals committed by Black and tans + auxiliaries. This increased support for the IRA

Question 15

Key events of the war of independence

Answer 15

20/3/1920:British kill lord mayor of Cork
25/10/1920:New Lord mayor died after 74 days in hunger strike
1/11/1920:18-year-old killed for role in Dublin ambush on British soldier
21/11/1920:Squad killed 13 British intelligence officers. In response, auxiliaries commit Bloody Sunday
28/11/1920: West Cork brigade kill 18 auxiliaries, auxiliaries burned Cork City Centre in response

Question 16

End of the War of independence

Answer 16

War was costing Britain £20 million/year + Ireland was running out of ammo
Truce began 11/7/21 + negotiations began
Ireland wanted complete independence + no partition
Britain wanted to keep Ireland + protect Unionists

Question 17

War of Independence - Irish Truce negotiators

Answer 17

Arthur Griffith + Michael Collins

Question 18

War of independence - British Truce negotiators

Answer 18

Churchill + Chamberlain
(experienced)

Question 19

Anglo-Irish treaty terms

Answer 19

Ireland would be a dominion + called Irish Free State
There would be a King’s rep + TDs had to swear an oath to the Crown
Britain would keep 3 ports + NI
A boundary commission would set up a border

Question 20

Irish Civil War - Pro Treaty

Answer 20

Free State army/Regulars - Collins
War was too expensive
Treaty could be improved upon
Better than Home Rule
Immediate peace with Britain

Question 21

Irish Civil War - Anti Treaty

Answer 21

Irregulars - De Valera
Didn’t get the Republic they fought + died for
Should’ve gotten better terms
TDs shouldn’t swear an oath to the Crown
Partition was bad

Question 22

Irish Civil War - Key events

Answer 22

War began 28/6/1922 when Michael Collins shelled the 4 courts which were occupied by the irregulars
Griffith + Collins both died in Aug 1922 + were grieved by both sides

Question 23

End of the civil war

Answer 23

Special Powers Act made the IRA illegal
The ceasefire was agreed on 24th May 1923

Question 24

Legacy of the civil war

Answer 24

Death + property damage
Divided country
Political developments - constitution, Oireachtas, an Garda síochána
Boundary commission
Fine Gael (pro-treaty) + Fine Fáil (anti-treaty)

Question 25

Establishment of NI

Answer 25

Set up under Government of Ireland Act
Parliament = Stormont
Nationalists refused to take their seats so it was a Unionist only gov

Question 26

Sectarianism in NI

Answer 26

Orange Order parades + rallies
Mostly Protestant RUC + B - Specials - anti catholic bias + violence
Gerrymandering

Question 27

Guerilla warfare

Answer 27

A tactic involving ambushes and
hit-and-run methods

Question 28

Gerrymandering

Answer 28

Rearranging voting districts to benefit 1 party, which prevented Catholics from having any say