Easter Rising

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The Easter Rising took place in April 1916 in Dublin and is one of the pivotal events in Modern Irish History. The rising was organized by Irish Republican Brotherhood. The IRB was formed in the middle 19th century. There were two branches, one in Ireland and one in America, the Fenians. There aim was to set up an independent Irish Republic, by force if necessary. Many members also belonged to Sinn Fein. The Irish Republican Brotherhood had its own army called The Irish Volunteers. The Irish Volunteers were led by Patrick Pears.

Sinn Fein was formed in 1905 by Arthur Griffiths. It was a rival to the moderate nationalist party. Sinn Fein wanted all Irish members of parliament to withdraw from Westminster, and set up a separate Irish parliament in Dublin.

Although world war one deflected much of the tension over Home Rule, some leading Irish Republican Brotherhood figures felt that Ireland’s freedom was being ignored. Many Irish Volunteers refused to fight for the British Army. A group including Patrick Pearse, Arthur Griffith and James Connoly planned an uprising against the British which involved seizing control of Dublin.

James Connoly was a trade unionist and socialist who wanted to bring about Irish independence as part of his aim to establish a socialist state. He formed the Irish Citizen Army in 1913 and it joined forces with the Irish Volunteers in 1916 when Patrick Pearse declared himself the Commandant General of a joint Irish Republican Army. He believed that it was necessary for Ireland to have it’s martyrs.

The Rising began on Easter Monday (24th April 1916) and the Rebels made their headquarters in the Post Office Building. Patrick Pearse declared Ireland an independent country and raised the Irish tricolour flag.

It is estimated that 2 000 rebels were involved and they were quickly defeated by the British. The majority of the Irish population were shocked by the Easter Rising. The British lost the support of many Irish people by executing the rebel leaders. The British government imposed martial law on Ireland and imprisoned leaders like Arthur Griffith.

The popularity of Sinn Fein increased and by the end of 1916 it had developed into a revolutionary party committed to the creation of an independent united Ireland. In 1917 Sinn Fein won 2 seats in by-elections, one was won by Eamonn de Valera. Eamonn de Valera become Prime Minister of Southern Ireland in 1932.

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By 1917 Sinn Fein had 250 000 members and was strong enough to challenge the more moderate Irish Nationalists. In the general election of 1918 Sinn Fein won 73 seats and the Irish nationalists won only 7. On 21 January 1919 Sinn Fein set up the Daily Eirann in Dublin and made the Irish declaration of independence. This was the start of the events leading to the partition of Ireland. The southern counties become Southern Ireland, independent of the UK and the six western counties become Northern Ireland, part of the UK. Another consequence of the Easter Rising ...

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