Its 1912 and the
Irish people are seeking independence from the British who have come into
Ireland. But the British have no intent on leaving. The British will drive the
Irish people to the brink and the nation will explode into a bloody war which
will decide the fate of Ireland.
In 1912, after a prolonged period of time being in Ireland, the British granted the Irish home rule, but right when they do, the English people go up in arms and form the Ulster Volunteers. In response, the armed Irish Volunteers were formed. Hearing the British people, British Parliament passes a bill that put British rule back into Ireland. The Irish volunteers do not stand for this, and something had to be done.
Easter week of 1916, The Irish Volunteers explicitly declare a republic by marching into Dublin with roughly 1,200 troops. A battle would then take place between the Volunteers and the British army. It would last six days and end up killing over 400 people. The British troops prove to be too much for the rebel forces. The Irish Volunteers surrender unconditionally, and 16 of the Volunteer's leaders are executed. Although this was a textbook defeat, it proves to the British that the Irish people would not stand for them anymore, and that they are willing to fight for their land, and for their independence. Two years later in the 1918 General Election, Sinn Fein wins 91% of the votes, but instead of sitting in on the UK parliament, they pledge to set up an independent Irish parliament. The Irish parliament met in January of 1919 and adopts a declaration of Independence, stating that they are independent from Britain, and that there is an existing state of war between Ireland and Britain. The Irish Volunteers are reconstituted, the "Irish Republican Army", the war has begun.
That same day, the IRA ambushes a convoy of Royal Irish Constabulary officers who are escorting explosives to County Tipperary. Although only two die, this is regarded as the beginning of the war, and can be compared to the beginning of the American Revolution: "the shot heard around the world" when the first British troops fell in Concord, Massachusetts. Soon IRA forces begin to attack British government troops and property everywhere. By early 1920, after much bloodshed the British Administration in Ireland collapses and British forces fall back. But Britain was not ready to give Ireland up quite yet.
The IRA's guerrilla tactics pove too much for the British troops to handle (as were the Americans several hundred years earlier, the British have a weakness.). Refusing to give up, the British deploy 2,000+ Royal Irish Constabulary troops who march into Ireland and relieve the previous RIC troops. Martial law is put into place by the British and the violence escalates. The IRA continue fighting and in response, the RIC troops drive into Croke Park (Dublin's football stadium) with armed tanks and open fire on the spectators. The death toll is horrific. This only spurs the IRA on, and the next day the IRA wipes out the British headquarters in Dublin. Roughly 1000 more soldiers and civilians will die before a truce is met in July 1921. The British agree to fall back out of most of Ireland, but they will keep six of the north east counties. The Irish don't see that they have a choice, and they agree. On December 6, 1921 the war officially ends.
Timothy Collins
Julian Charter School
Last edited: 1/13/14
In 1912, after a prolonged period of time being in Ireland, the British granted the Irish home rule, but right when they do, the English people go up in arms and form the Ulster Volunteers. In response, the armed Irish Volunteers were formed. Hearing the British people, British Parliament passes a bill that put British rule back into Ireland. The Irish volunteers do not stand for this, and something had to be done.
Easter week of 1916, The Irish Volunteers explicitly declare a republic by marching into Dublin with roughly 1,200 troops. A battle would then take place between the Volunteers and the British army. It would last six days and end up killing over 400 people. The British troops prove to be too much for the rebel forces. The Irish Volunteers surrender unconditionally, and 16 of the Volunteer's leaders are executed. Although this was a textbook defeat, it proves to the British that the Irish people would not stand for them anymore, and that they are willing to fight for their land, and for their independence. Two years later in the 1918 General Election, Sinn Fein wins 91% of the votes, but instead of sitting in on the UK parliament, they pledge to set up an independent Irish parliament. The Irish parliament met in January of 1919 and adopts a declaration of Independence, stating that they are independent from Britain, and that there is an existing state of war between Ireland and Britain. The Irish Volunteers are reconstituted, the "Irish Republican Army", the war has begun.
That same day, the IRA ambushes a convoy of Royal Irish Constabulary officers who are escorting explosives to County Tipperary. Although only two die, this is regarded as the beginning of the war, and can be compared to the beginning of the American Revolution: "the shot heard around the world" when the first British troops fell in Concord, Massachusetts. Soon IRA forces begin to attack British government troops and property everywhere. By early 1920, after much bloodshed the British Administration in Ireland collapses and British forces fall back. But Britain was not ready to give Ireland up quite yet.
The IRA's guerrilla tactics pove too much for the British troops to handle (as were the Americans several hundred years earlier, the British have a weakness.). Refusing to give up, the British deploy 2,000+ Royal Irish Constabulary troops who march into Ireland and relieve the previous RIC troops. Martial law is put into place by the British and the violence escalates. The IRA continue fighting and in response, the RIC troops drive into Croke Park (Dublin's football stadium) with armed tanks and open fire on the spectators. The death toll is horrific. This only spurs the IRA on, and the next day the IRA wipes out the British headquarters in Dublin. Roughly 1000 more soldiers and civilians will die before a truce is met in July 1921. The British agree to fall back out of most of Ireland, but they will keep six of the north east counties. The Irish don't see that they have a choice, and they agree. On December 6, 1921 the war officially ends.
Timothy Collins
Julian Charter School
Last edited: 1/13/14