Use your own knowledge to assess how far the Sources support the interpretation that a crisis arose in Irish affairs in the period 1912 to 1914 mainly as a result of Asquiths mishandling of events.

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Amy Lake

(b)Use your own knowledge to assess how far the Sources support the interpretation that a crisis arose in Irish affairs in the period 1912 to 1914 mainly as a result of Asquith’s mishandling of events.

Source E is the best source to show that Asquith was to blame for Home Rule Crisis; this was said by a Liberal that a ‘glorious opportunity to settle the Ulster Problem’ was missed.  This was because we know Asquith used the wait and see policy, this policy has its advantages and disadvantages. Asquith used this method in hoping that the competition and tension between the Nationalists and Unionists would soon settle down, or be sorted by themselves. Unfortunately  this wasn’t  the case, the wait and see policy caused ‘inflexibility between the two sides’ which resulted in Asquith not being able to compromise between the two sides.   Although Asquith isn’t all to blame, source C clearly shows that the Unionists will fight for Ulster and will use extreme action to prevent it from happening with Carson leading them. While source B shows that the Nationalists are clearly not going to give up without a fight just like the Unionists and will also express their very extreme attitude with the use of violence under Redmond’s action.

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Also noticing that source B was reported in September 1912 when the bill was actually introduced, while as Source C was recorded in January 1913, the year between them would have increased the political arguments and most likely the situation would get much more extreme and difficult the further we get into the years. Asquith knew that both Carson and Redmond views wasn’t going to budge. The situation was almost impossible to solve, as if Asquith gave one side what they wanted this would cause controversy to the other opposing side, which could increase more violence, and it was the ...

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