Ireland, Study Question Two: What developments during WWI intensified the conflict?

1. Ireland, Study Question Two: What developments during WWI intensified the conflict?

2. Impact of WWI • Unionists • Show loyalty to Britain • Didn’t want Home Rule • 35 000 enlisted (Ulster Division • The Irish Volunteers • Minority – 10 000 • Opposed British War effort • Nothing to do with Irish • Home Rule for all of Ireland at end of war • Leadership infiltrated by IRB SPLIT • National Volunteers • majority – 80 000 • supported British in war • Deserved Home Rule through loyalty • Leader – John Redmond

3. The Plans The Military Council of IRB Secret group that controlled leadership of Irish Volunteers. James Connolly joins in Jan 1926. Worried that he might start his own rebellion before IRB ready James Connolly Patrick Pearse Roger Casement Tom Clarke Sean MacDermott Eoin MacNeill

4. The Plan • Arms bought from Germany to be distributed. Organised by Roger Casement • Pearse as Director of Operations for Irish Volunteers would issue orders to parade for ‘field manoeuvres’. Signal for start • Selected strong points in Dublin seized • Irish Volunteer units throughout Ireland would rise throughout Ireland • Spark off a national rising

5. The Problems • The German ship the Aud carrying guns was intercepted by British and Casement captured. Ship was scuttled • MacNeill was deceived by forged document. When he found out he cancelled orders for the Sunday ‘manoeuvres’. • As a result: • Poorly armed • Outnumbered • Not supported by most Irish

6. Who? • Patrick Pearse • Director of Operations for IV • ‘Blood Sacrifice’ • James Connolly • Leader of ICA • ICA used • Firing Squad when wounded • Roger Casement • Responsible for getting arms • Intercepted and arrested by British • Eoin MacNeill • Leader of IV • Cancelled ‘manoeuvres’

7. The Rising • 1500 rebels seized key buildings around Dublin including the Four Courts and GPO • Pearse declared Ireland an independent republic • British caught by surprise, GPO taken and used as rebel headquarters • Rebels consolidate. British send for reinforcements • Major attacks on rebel positions. British gunboat Helga began firing on rebel positions • British continue attacks. Use heavy artillery. • Rebels evacuate GPO as British surround • British surround remaining rebel positions. • Pearse surrenders

8. Images of the Rising

9. Images

10. Key Buildings

11. Damage

17. Why did it fail? • Confusion over the orders issued led to a reduced number of volunteer • Most of fighting occurred in Dublin. Did not spread as Pearse would have liked • GPO not good choice as headquarters and rebels did not take key buildings • Majority of Dublin people did not support rebels • Rebels not able to counter the superior firepower of British

18. Results • Irish people condemned rising. 3000 casualties, 500 killed. Damage to Dublin estimated at 5 million pounds • General Maxwell, the Commander in Chief of British forces was determined to take a strong stand • Ninety rebels sentenced to death. Pearse, Connelly, and 13 other leaders executed for treason • 1800 suspected rebels imprisoned without trial Actions led to • Turned Irish public opinion against British. Rebels seen as heroes and martyrs, while British seen as oppressors • British shaken – Asquith visited Ireland to view damage • Led to the release of the rest of the prisoners. Did not pacify Ireland just released a group of nationalists who were determined to continue the fight for a republic

19. Images of results