Our main aim in history this term is to find out exactly why the island of Ireland ended up divided in two: WHAT CAUSED this PARTITION and TO UNDERSTAND WHY PARTITION IS STILL IMPORTANT TODAY
We can suggest that Partition really had TWO different types of causes:
- LONG TERM CAUSES (Events that took time to build up but contributed to Partition)
- SHORT TERM CAUSES (Events which were unpredictable and led to Partition)
The whole island of Ireland was part of the UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND since the Act of Union in 1801. This Union was supposed to have solved many long term differences between the British and the Irish and help them both be part of a very successful country that had the biggest empire in the world. However, this Union ironically caused more division. It created fantastic conditions for industrial growth in the mostly Protestant north. However, for the rest of Ireland it seemed to encourage poverty and even the largest famine in modern European history. Ireland was eventually partitioned in 1921. The reasons for Ireland being divided are complex but we can pinpoint several main LONG TERM CAUSES.
Ever since the NORMANS arrived in Ireland from England and Wales in the year 1169 there have been many attempts by different groups of people in Ireland to win INDEPENDENCE (Freedom). The Normans were viewed as the first outside power to control Ireland. Many saw this as the start of England trying to control and rule Ireland.
There have been a mixture of PEACEFUL movements for independence throughout history as well as those prepared to use VIOLENCE to fight for Irish independence |
The SECOND main long term cause for Ireland's partition is that it was a Divided society.
Catholics and Protestants had very DIFFERENT experiences of Union. This made divisions VERY BAD. |
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at the beginning of the 20th century, all of ireland was ruled by britain and ireland was governed directly by the british parliament in london. however, many people in ireland began to demand what was known as home rule
The experiences of famine and poverty for most of Ireland and in particular the majority Catholic population led many Irish Nationalists to demand HOME RULE.
WHAT WAS HOME RULE? This was to be an IRISH PARLIAMENT IN IRELAND TO DEAL WITH IRISH AFFAIRS. It was NOT INDEPENDENCE! Britain would still have a role in Ireland but a reduced one.
Many Irish people (Particularly Catholics / Nationalists) wanted this dream of an Irish Parliament for Ireland. However, in the North, in Ulster, things were different. Many Ulster Protestants disagreed with Home Rule. |
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what happened to home rule?
The British Parliament attempted to introduce Home Rule twice in the 1886 and 1893.
By 1912 all obstacles to Home Rule were removed (including the House of Lords veto) The House of Lords veto power was reduced to the power of delay for two years. Home Rule was at last passed in Parliament - there was just that TWO YEAR DELAY before it become law!
HOWEVER, this two year delay gave Ulster Unionists their chance to show their determined opposition.
- In 1886 the idea was rejected by the elected and powerful HOUSE OF COMMONS.
- In 1893 it was actually passed by the House of Commons but rejected by the unelected HOUSE OF LORDS - using a controversial veto. Many argued they should not have a veto as they were unelected
- In the early 1900's the IRISH PARLIAMENTARY PARTY (IPP), which supported Home Rule and was the dominant Nationalist party and biggest party in Ireland, found itself in a dominant position in the UK. It could never win power itself. However, because the two British parties - the LIBERALS and CONSERVATIVES were so close it was the IPP which held the BALANCE OF POWER. The IPP agreed to support the LIBERAL PARTY in getting into Government on condition that they would put Home Rule on the agenda - which they did.
By 1912 all obstacles to Home Rule were removed (including the House of Lords veto) The House of Lords veto power was reduced to the power of delay for two years. Home Rule was at last passed in Parliament - there was just that TWO YEAR DELAY before it become law!
HOWEVER, this two year delay gave Ulster Unionists their chance to show their determined opposition.
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GUN RUNNING (1914)
However both sides up until 1914 lacked one thing - Weapons. The UVF had 100,000 men BUT only wooden rifles!!! This was all to change in April 1914 with BOTH sides smuggling in German guns in preparation for Civil War!
(UVF) LARNE GUN RUNNINGThe Larne gun running on behalf of the UVF was:
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(IVF) HOWTH GUN RUNNINGHowth gun running was:
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BOTH SIDES got weapons from Germany! WHY?
Germany knew it was preparing for a World War soon - If it could create a civil war in Ireland this would keep Britain occupied and away from Europe
Germany knew it was preparing for a World War soon - If it could create a civil war in Ireland this would keep Britain occupied and away from Europe
Just as these two sides looked armed and ready to fight a terrible civil war however one massive event shook the world and brought events in Ireland to a standstill - World War 1 broke out!!
STRANGELY the war brought Nationalist and Unionist together for a while as all sides joined to help the British fight against Germany in Europe. Both would have very different reasons for supporting the War: |
- UNIONISTS: Wanted to demonstrate their PATRIOTISM - Love of their country ; They also hoped that by joining they would be showing their LOYALTY to Britain which would help Ulster stay out of Home Rule after the War
- NATIONALISTS: Supported the war effort because they too hoped that by showing Britain loyalty they would be rewarded WITH full Home Rule after the war. Irish Nationalists also felt the war was being fought in defence of Belgium a small Catholic country in Europe which had been attacked by the Germans.
PROPAGANDA
PROPAGANDA POSTERS AIMED AT NATIONALISTS AND UNIONISTS
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