To What Extent Did The Easter Rising Achieve It's Aims?

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To What Extent Did The Easter Rising Achieve It’s Aims?

In order to comment on the achievements of the Easter Rising one must first identify its aims. The aims being the establishment of an Irish republic thus identifying Ireland as independent; break all links with Britain; gain support of Irish and Germans and take over key areas in Ireland as well as extending to other areas over Ireland. It must be stressed that the aim of establishing an Irish republic was not a new idea instead numerous rebellions preceded the uprising. To a large extent the Easter Rising did not achieve all of it’s aims but to a small extent it did as it took over the key areas such as Dublin, thus suggesting it was not a complete failure.

Right from the beginning the Irish nationalists who were members of the Irish republican Brotherhood (Fenians) had opposed the First World War and also the policies of the Irish parliamentary party. They made sure they prevented recruitment and support for the British war effort in Ireland. The Irish Volunteers split into two, the small anti-war group pf men were under the leadership of Eoin MacNeill under the name of Irish Volunteers. The other majority of men remained loyal to Redmond and were known as the National Volunteers. The leaders of the Irish volunteers were revolutionaries who were highly influenced by the historical and religious roots of Irish nationalism. The leader MacNeill was a professor of Irish history and “…passionately committed to a free and independent Ireland.” This fits in with one of the aims of the Easter Rising in that the main aim was to gain power in Ireland and with the support of the Irish people proclaim Ireland independent. However, the other group of the Irish volunteers were prepared to go ahead with an armed rebellion. The key members were Tom Clarke, Sean Mac Dermott, Patrick Pearse and James Connolly. Connolly was a Marxist and also more of a realist. He believed that a rebellion would be a success if it had the backing of the Irish masses.

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However, the backing of the Irish masses was not achieved (at first) as most citizens were either hostile and angry or bemused spectators. This indicates Connolly’s aim of having the backing of the Irish masses was a failure. The Catholic Church also condemned the Easter Rising; this also suggests how the Catholics would have been influenced by the Pope’s decision in condemning the rising. Furthermore, Redmond and other moderate nationalists also denounced it as well as the Irish Hone Rule Party. This indicates how unpopular the Easter Rising was towards the people of Ireland. However, the backing of the ...

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