Why is Ireland Partitioned?

A DIVIDED ISLAND

Ireland is an island with a long and troubled history. Today it is divided or PARTITIONED into two countries:
1. NORTHERN IRELAND:

This is made up of 6 counties in the North of Ireland (6 of the 9 counties of the Province of Ulster)
Fermanagh Derry / (Londonderry)
Armagh Antrim
Tyrone Down

It currently has 1.8 million people and its capital is Belfast.
It is currently part of the United Kingdom

2. THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

The Republic of Ireland is an independent state, separated from the United Kingdom.
It has 4.5 million people and its capital is Dublin
Both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are part of the European Union

Our main aim in history this term is to find out exactly why the island of Ireland ended up divided in two:

WHAT CAUSED PARTITION?
TO UNDERSTAND WHY PARTITION IS STILL IMPORTANT TODAY

We can suggest that Partition really had TWO different types of causes:

LONG TERM CAUSES (Events that took some time to build up but which contributed to Partition)
SHORT TERM CAUSES (Events which were unpredictable and led to Partition)

Ireland was Partitioned in 1921. The reasons for Ireland being divided are complex but we can pinpoint several main LONG TERM and some SHORT TERM CAUSES. We will start by investigating the LONG TERM CAUSES:

1. A DESIRE TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT IRELAND

2. IRELAND'S DEEPLY DIVIDED COMMUNITIES

3. THE FAILURE TO ACHIEVE HOME RULE

4. THE THREAT OF VIOLENT RESISTANCE FROM ULSTER 1912-14

5. THE GROWTH OF ARMED IRISH NATIONALISM 1905-16

Ever since the NORMANS arrived in Ireland in the year 1169 there have been many attempts by different groups of people in Ireland to win INDEPENDENCE (Freedom). The Normans were viewed as the first outside power to control Ireland. Many saw this as the start of England trying to control and rule Ireland.

There have been a mixture of PEACEFUL movements for independence throughout history as well as those prepared to use VIOLENCE to fight for Irish independence.

UNIONISTS and NATIONALISTS didn't agree

The SECOND main long term cause for Ireland's partition is that it was a Divided society.

Great Britain and Ireland were UNITED as one country in 1801. This meant Ireland was ruled from Westminster in London and not Dublin
Union was meant to heal the religious divisions in Ireland—In fact they made them a lot worse.

Catholics and Protestants had very DIFFERENT experiences of Union. This made divisions VERY BAD.

Ireland was ruled from Westminster in London

Nationalists wanted to END THE UNION WITH BRITAIN and have some form of independence or semi independence
They tended to be CATHOLIC
They made up 3/4 of the Irish population
They tended to be poorer, small farmers as well as some catholic businessmen and poorer workers
Most of Ireland was poor and didnt share in Ulster's industrial success. Nationalists blamed Britain (& Union) for the poverty
While they had connections throughout the British Empire through emigration - they felt the Empire was oppressive keeping nations enslaved
They were part of a Protestant United Kingdom whilst being a predominantly Catholic country.
They had their own language - Gaelic and they were increasingly playing Gaelic sports like hurling.

Unionists wanted to KEEP THE UNION WITH BRITAIN
They tended to be PROTESTANT
They were very concentrated in the North of Ireland in Ulster. (They made up 2/3rds of the population here)
They tended to be land owners, businessmen, farmers or the poorer working men who worked in factories and shipyards.
Ulster was very wealthy at the start of the 20th Century with shipbuilding, linen and engineering. Unionists feared this would be put at risk
They were proud to be British and were scared of losing their connections to the British Empire
They were also scared of losing their religious freedom in an Ireland which would be dominated by Roman Catholics

Belfast was very wealthy. Unionists were proud of the huge British Empire

At the beginning of the 20th Century, ALL of IRELAND was ruled by BRITAIN. After the bad experiences in the 1800's however many Irish Nationalists (Catholics) began to demand HOME RULE.

WHAT WAS HOME RULE?
This was to be an IRISH PARLIAMENT IN IRELAND TO DEAL WITH IRISH AFFAIRS. Britain would still have a role in Ireland but a reduced one.

Many Irish people (Particularly Catholics / Nationalists) wanted this dream of an Irish Parliament for Ireland.

However in the North, in Ulster, things were different. Many Ulster Protestants disagreed with Home Rule.

Irish Home Rule Poster showing a bright new dawn for Ireland (At this time the Irish tricolour was not widely recognised)

Horrific events like the Irish Potato famine in the 1840's convinced many Irish Catholics that the Union had been no good for Ireland

They felt their RELIGION was better protected by the Union with Protestant Britain rather than them being a minority in Catholic Ireland. They said 'Home Rule would be Rome Rule' meaning it would be controlled by the Pope.
They also feared for their jobs and Prosperity. Ulster was booming with huge and successful industries. Linen was exported around the British Empire and Ship building built ships to sail around the world.
They were also proud of their British Identity and being part of the biggest empire in the world.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HOME RULE?
The British Parliament attempted to introduce Home Rule twice in the late 1800's However both times they failed - for different reasons.

However by 1912 all obstacles to Home Rule were removed and it was passed in Parliament - though it had to wait two years to become law!

This two year delay gave Ulster Unionists their chance to show their determined opposition.

Unionists were more determined than ever in 1912 to resist Home Rule. They felt a real threat from Home Rule.
They thought it would:

Endanger their JOBS and INDUSTRIES like shipbuilding and linen which were booming in Ulster.
They thought it would endanger their RELIGION - 'HOME RULE IS ROME RULE' they would say, showing that they were concerned about their religious freedoms under a Home Rule - catholic dominated Ireland.
Their IDENTITY may be lost. Many were proudly BRITISH and felt secure in the Union and the British Empire

Over 400,000 signed the Ulster Covenant

Up to 100,000 joined the UVF

Unionists organised several key things to try and show their resistance and STOP Home Rule from happening:

TIP (It is important you know and remember the methods Unionists used to try to stop Home Rule)

Unionist postcard aiming to show what Belfast would be like under Home Rule

Another postcard appealing to old Protestant feelings of resistance and showing Unionist leaders Carson and Craig

Irish identity had been almost lost in the 19th Century. Irish speaking people were a very small minority, gaelic sports were rarely played and the Irish seemed to have lost their self confidence. This began to change in the late 19th Century as a distinctive type of Irish nationalism began to develop. This was due to the introduction of several organisations:

1) THE GAELIC LEAGUE:
The Gaelic League helped to promote the Irish Language and Traditions again
The Gaelic Athletic Association promoted Irish sports such as Hurling and Gaelic Football.

2) THE IRISH REPUBLICAN BROTHERHOOD (IRB) In 1908 the IRB was taken over by men dedicated to winning complete independence and an Irish Republic - By violence if need be One of its leaders was Patrick Pearse

3) THE IRISH CITIZEN ARMY
This was an organisation formed to free Irish workers by gaining a free Ireland
lIt was led by James Connolly

4) SINN FEIN
Sinn Fein means ‘Ourselves alone’ It wanted Irish MPs to walk out on the British Parliament and declare independence

GUN RUNNING (1914)

By 1914 both sides in Ireland had formed rival military organisations both FOR and AGAINST HOME RULE.

UNIONISTS had the UVF - Ulster Volunteer Force
NATIONALISTS had the IVF - Irish Volunteer Force.

However both sides up until 1914 lacked one thing - Weapons. The UVF had 100,000 men BUT only wooden rifles!!! This was all to change in April 1914 with BOTH sides smuggling in German guns in preparation for Civil War!

LARNE GUN RUNNING (UVF)

The Larne gun running was:
Highly Organised
It was Secret
It was carried out at NIGHT
It involved a network of Lorries and people to direct traffic
The Police turned 'a Blind eye' to the Gun running- Many shared the unionist cause and wanted Home Rule to Fail

BOTH SIDES got weapons from Germany! WHY? Germany knew it was preparing for a World War soon - If it could create a civil war in Ireland this would keep Britain occupied and away from Europe.

HOWTH GUN RUNNING (IVF)

Howth gun running was:
Not as well Organised
It was NOT Secret
It was carried out in broad DAYLIGHT
There was panic to get the guns offloaded in 25 minutes
MOST IMPORTANTLY - Unlike in the North this time the gun runners in the South were confronted with soldiers. The soldiers panicked and fired - killing 3 people at Batchelors walk in Dublin- Many Nationalists were enraged at the differences shown between North and South

Just as these two sides looked armed and ready to fight a terrible civil war however one massive event shook the world and brought events in Ireland to a standstill - World War 1 broke out!!

STRANGELY the war brought Nationalist and Unionist together for a while as all sides joined to help the British fight against Germany in Europe. Both would have very different reasons for supporting the War:

UNIONISTS: Wanted to demonstrate their PATRIOTISM - Love of their country ; They also hoped that by joining they would be showing their LOYALTY to Britain which would help Ulster stay out of Home Rule after the War
NATIONALISTS: Supported the war effort because they too hoped that by showing Britain loyalty they would be rewarded WITH full Home Rule after the war. Irish Nationalists also felt the war was being fought in defence of Belgium a small Catholic country in Europe which had been attacked by the Germans.

PROPAGANDA POSTERS AIMED AT NATIONALISTS AND UNIONISTS

THE EASTER RISING WAS THE SPARK ... THE TRIGGER ... THAT EVENT IN HISTORY WHICH CHANGES EVERYTHING AND MEANS NOTHING WILL BE THE SAME AGAIN....

NOT all Irish people wanted the war - a popular slogan said 'WE SERVE NEITHER KING (BRITISH) NOR KAISER (GERMANY) ONLY IRELAND'
Ireland however volunteered in huge numbers to fight for the British forces. Ireland also did well economically from the War with soldiers wages coming home and increased prices for farm products to feed the troops. Ireland itself seemed peaceful and content- just waiting until the war finished and Ireland could get its Home Rule.

However one group of men were not prepared to wait for that day to come. A group of Revolutionary Nationalists were determined to stroke. They believed that 'ENGLAND'S DIFFICULTY IS IRELAND'S OPPORTUNITY' This meant the time seemed right to strike when England was at war.

This group of men were led by PADRAIG PEARSE and JAMES CONNOLLY. Both believed in an Independent and Free Ireland.

They firstly READ A PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE declaring Ireland to be Independent in their eyes. They then occupied key buildings around Dublin including the GENERAL POST OFFICE (GPO) and the JACOBS CRACKER FACTORY!

The Rising had caught the British by surprise as many were on their Easter break at the races! However the rising was also not well planned.
After 1 weeks heavy fighting and massive destruction across Dublin the Rebels surrendered to the British.

Most Irish people DID NOT SUPPORT the rising and even through rotten vegetables at them! They didn't support them because:

Much of Dublin was destroyed in the fighting
Many soldiers and civilians were killed in the crossfire
Many Irish men were fighting abroad - It felt like betrayal to them.

NEWSREEL FROM 1916 SHOWING THE DAMAGE TO DUBLIN

HOWEVER, THE BRITISH MADE ONE HUGE MISTAKE:

They arrested 3,000 people
They condemned 90 to death
They began to EXECUTE 15 of the rebels

Irish opinion transformed !! From being figures of fun or hatred the rebels soon became MARTYRS.

The British had turned the Irish against them and increasingly against Home Rule.

WEBLINKS

Dublin Easter Risng walking tour

RTE Century Ireland Video

History learning Site

BBC GUIDES: Easter Rising

BBC link to Easter Rising

FANTASTIC VIDEO: THE EASTER RISING TOLD WITH LEGO

The Easter Rising had made the huge divide between Unionist and Nationalist, Protestant and Catholic even wider. Previously nationalists had wanted Home Rule which was only Semi Independence from the UK. Now, after the rising Irish nationalists were becoming a lot more aggressive in their demands for FULL INDEPENDENCE and an IRISH REPUBLIC. There would be several steps on the way to the division of Ireland (Partition) Try to learn and understand them.

After the executions one Political Party managed to boom in popularity- SINN FEIN. It had not really taken part in the rising BUT many people had linked it to the rising and as a result it found its support rocketing!

Sinn Fein stood for a complete break from Britain - Independence. It had also found another issue to unite Irish men and women - CONSCRIPTION

In 1918 the war was going badly for the British. They were needing to get soldiers to make up for the massive amount of dead and wounded. In England they had introduced CONSCRIPTION - FORCING men to join the army. This had never been applied to Ireland. In 1918 however it was being considered

Irish people were outraged at the threat of conscription and began to follow Sinn Fein who bitterly opposed its introduction.

The 1918 Election result was a massive victory for Sinn Fein - It showed how popular the feeling was about gaining not just Home Rule but Independence.

Before the war the Constitutional Nationalists were by far the largest party in Ireland. They were dedicated to peaceful ways of getting Home Rule - Semi Independence. When the General election of 1918 came it was clear to see how quickly things had changed:

Sinn Fein won 73 out of 105 seats in Ireland! This was a huge victory ! It showed how the opinion of Ireland had changed and hardened. Now they were not simply content with Home Rule but Independence!

Sinn Fein began by pulling its members out of the British House of Commons and starting their own Parliament - The DAIL EIREANN This was in effect declaring independence for Ireland

The first Dail Eireann

The British Prime Minister Lloyd George could not just watch Ireland break away. He was determined to resist the new Dail Eireann. However in Ireland Law and order were QUICKLY breaking down AND THE IRISH POLICE FORCE FOUND ITSELF IN THE FIRING LINE.

Michael Collins formed the IRA (Irish Republican Army)
The IRA took part in guerilla (surprise) raids against the RIC (Police force) Many were killed
As a result Lloyd George sent over a group of EX SOLDIERS - who became known as the BLACK AND TANS due to their uniforms.
The Black and Tans could be brutal and ruthless in Ireland. They burned the city of Cork, set houses on fire and often beat up prisoners. Both sides committed massacres against the other in a bloody war which lasted over 2 years. One of the most violent days was BLOODY SUNDAY 1920

WHAT HAPPENED?

On 21st November 1920 Michael Collins IRA assassinated a highly trained group of British agents called the CAIRO GANG.
The IRA found the addresses of 12 of them and executed them - This would lead to a great deal of anger among the British and a demand for revenge

WHAT HAPPENED?

In response to the assassinations, the British decided to raid a GAA match at Croke Park between Tipperary and Dublin.

Nervous Policemen and soldiers opened fire on the crowd killing 2 players and 11 spectators.

Both sides were suffering in this brutal war and soon a solution would have to be found

AN INTERPRETATION OF BLOODY SUNDAY FROM 'MICHAEL COLLINS' (1996)

DOCUMENTARY FROM 1970'S WITH LOTS OF EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS FROM THE TIME

The British Prime Minister Lloyd George had a problem:

He was sympathetic to Home Rule and wanted it for the Irish

BUT
He DID NOT want complete Independence for Ireland

He knew he could not force the Unionists into a Home Rule Ireland

BUT
He also knew Sinn Fein now wanted Complete Independence

He knew he could NOT BEAT the IRA outright AND he had many problems around the world to deal with.
USEFUL WEBSITE

BBC Partition section

TG4 DOCUMENTARY ON THE TREATY

MICHAEL COLLINS SIGNING THE TREATY - WHICH WOULD TURN OUT TO BE HIS 'DEATH WARRANT'

In 1920, A TREATY, (an agreement) was reached between the British Government and Michael Collins (on behalf of Sinn Fein)

Ireland would be partitioned (though it was thought only temporarily)
This would create 2 NEW countries:

Stormont - Home of the Northern Ireland Parliament after Partition

This would be made up of 6 counties of Ulster.
( It would exclude DONEGAL, MONAGHAN and CAVAN as they have Catholic majorities and Unionists wanted a majority in this new Northern Ireland)
It would also have its own Parliament at Stormont in Belfast

The Irish Parliament (Dail Eireann)

This would be made up of the remaining 26 counties of Ireland.
They would be allowed their own Dail (Parliament)
BUT they would have to swear loyalty to the KING
They would also have to let Britain keep some Naval ports.

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