Political Developments In Twentieth Century- The Treaty/ New Government

Question 1

What was the anglo irish treaty

Answer 1

After truce agreement had to be reached

Agreement was to be reached under government of Ireland act which divided Ireland into north and south

Question 2

What did the Irish delegation aim to negotiate for the treaty

Answer 2

To set up a republic to be completely independent from britain
End partition of northern Ireland

Question 3

What did the british delegation aim to negotiate for the treaty

Answer 3

They wanted Ireland to stay in the British commonwealth

To protect state of the north rather than risk unionists violence

Question 4

Explain British commonwealth

Answer 4

Association of countries including the UK and its colonies

Question 5

What were the terms of the treaty

Answer 5

Ireland would be a free state
Would be part of the British commonwealth
British would have naval ports in ireland
Governor general would represent king in free state
Boundary commission set up, discuss northern partition

Question 6

Who signed the treaty and why

Answer 6

Michael collins signed with other Irish delegates
He knew IRA could not afford another war
Fekt he had no choice

Question 7

What was the government in irelands reaction to the treaty and what were the results of the vote in the dáil

Answer 7

Split the country down the middle against and for the treaty
De Valera was annoyed collins and griffith signed without permission
Dáil voted on the treaty and more were for the treaty
Those against the treaty left the dáil

Question 8

What were the arguments for and against the treaty

Answer 8

In favour:
Gave Ireland more independence than home rule
Stepping stone to greater independence
IRA would have been beaten in another war, best they could’ve got

Against:
Didn’t give a republic
Republicans could not swear an oath to the king
Close to Britain so it would be easy to get involved in irish affairs

Question 9

What were the causes of the civil war

Answer 9

1. Treaty caused division in the country
2. British army pulled out of their barracks and immediately they were taken over by pro treaty and anti treaty sides
3. The irregulars took over four courts
4. General election came out pro treaty
5. Election and capture of one of his generals gave collins an excuse to attack four courts

Question 10

What were the pro and anti treaty armies known as during the civil war

Answer 10

Pro treaty IRA- Free state army

Anti Treaty army- Republicans/ Irregulars

Question 11

How did collins attack the irregulars in the four courts

Answer 11

Collins used British artillery to fire on the four courts
This started the civil war
After two days the irregulars surrendered and in a week irregulars were defeated in dublin

Question 12

Explain the special powers act

Answer 12

Allowed the free state government to arrest irregulars for offences such as having a gun

Question 13

When was the ceasefire of the civil war

Answer 13

1923

Question 14

What were the results of the civil war

Answer 14

A Lot of damage was caused to towns, transport, economy
Almost 600 people killed
Nation was left divided and bitter
Major political parties formed, cumman na nGaedhael(pro treaty), Fianna fáil (anti treaty)

Question 15

Explain dominion status

Answer 15

A self governing state within the British commonwealth where the king was head of state

Question 16

What challenges did Cumman na gaedhael face after they won the civil war

Answer 16

Economy was in ruins
Bitterness in the country
Large minority of anti treaty did not recognise free state and threatned its existence

Question 17

Explain the main points in the constitution

Answer 17

Two houses of parliament, The Dáil, Seanad éireann
Dáil members had to swear oath of allegiance to the king
Governor general was kings representitive
Women could vote like men

Question 18

Explain constitution

Answer 18

Rules by which a country is governed

Question 19

Explain Public Safety acts

Answer 19

These enabled the government to imprison IRA member which ended this threat
Introduced in 1923-1924

Question 20

Who was the minister for home affairs(justice)

Answer 20

Kevin o higgins

Question 21

What and why was the garda síochána set up

Answer 21

They were a well trained force which were unarmed created to restore law and order to the country

Question 22

Explain the work of the ACC (Agricultural Credit Corporation)

Answer 22

Provided loans to farmers to modernise methods
Not many used loans
Low tax meant low costs for farmers
Sold a lot of agricultural products to Britain

Question 23

Explain the shannon scheme

Answer 23

Problem facing inductry was lack of cheap energy source
Hydroelectric power station built at the shannon
Provided cheap electricity distributed by ESB

Question 24

Explain boundary commission

Answer 24

Set up to decide the border between northern Ireland and free state ireland. Consisted of Eoin mac neill(free state), J.R Fisher(Northern Ireland) and an independent chairman

Question 25

What border was agreed for the north

Answer 25

North wanted small parts of Protestant majority in donegal

Free state protested and border left unchanged

Question 26

How did the free state make the country more indpendent from britain

Answer 26

Joined the league of nations( organisation preserving peace) and appointed their own ambassadors

Question 27

What were the results of the statue of westminster in 1931

Answer 27

Dáil could pass laws without British interference

All dominions could change laws Britain made for them. In Ireland this included the treaty

Question 28

When was fainna fáil formed

Answer 28

1926 by éamon de valera

Question 29

Explain electoral amendment act and what happened after it was passed

Answer 29

Stated all TDs must swear oath to the king or give up their seats after this de valera took the oath and entered the dáil

Question 30

Why did Cumman na NGaedhael become unpopular

Answer 30

The depression, caused the wall street crash, high unemployment
Cut teacher salaries, reduced old age pensions

Question 31

What were the results of the 1932 general election

Answer 31

Fianna Fáil won the election and Cosgrave( Cumman na NGaedhael left quietly and democracy was safe)

Question 32

What did fianna fáil promise to do when if they got into government in the 1932 election

Answer 32

Break up the treaty
Put tax on imports
Build houses
Improve pensions

Question 33

Explain what land annuities were brought in by British government

Answer 33

In the late 1800s the British government loaned money to Irish tenants to buy farms. Land annuities were the annual repayments of these loans to the British

Question 34

Explain what happened briefly during economic war between the Irish government Fianna fáil, and British government over land annuities and tax

Answer 34

De Valera refused to pay taxes due to England over land. Britain put a tax on Irish cattle exports so De Valera but a tax on english goods
Caused an economic war that ended with an agreement

Question 35

What did the agreement ending fianna fáils economic war with british taxes state

Answer 35

The anglo Irish agreement abolished land annuities and de Valera paid a lump sump of £10 million to british
Both governments reduced taxes
Treaty ports were given back to irish

Question 36

What did Fianna Fáil do in their term of government to improve economic policy in Ireland

Answer 36

Fianna fáil wants to promote irish goods
Protectionism was brought in
Provided unemployment assisstance, pensions, housing

Question 37

Explain blueshirts

Answer 37

Ex members of the free state army led by Eoin O Duffy. Fascist style organisation which was failed the national guard or ACA

Question 38

Exaplain how Fine Gael was formed

Answer 38

In 1933 Cumman na NGaedhael and the ACA or national guard joined to form Fine Gael

Question 39

Summarise the main achievements of Fianna Fáil in government before the war

Answer 39

Stopped paying land annutities
Improved industry
Moved Ireland closer to republic
Got treaty ports back
Defeated blueshirts and restrained IRA