Overview of the Anglo-Irish War

Aug 9, 2024

Notes on the Anglo-Irish War (1919-1921)

Introduction

  • January 1919: Great Britain emerges victorious from WWI, ruling a larger empire.
  • Rising discontent in Ireland leads to the Irish War of Independence.

Background

  • Irish Question: Ongoing debate about Irish autonomy and independence since 1800.
  • Home Rule Act (1914): Passed to give Ireland more autonomy, implementation delayed due to WWI.
  • Easter Rising (1916): Radical armed groups declare a free Irish government, but British forces suppress it.

Sinn Fein and Dáil Éireann

  • December 1918 Election: Sinn Fein, linked to the Easter Rising, wins 3/4 of Irish parliamentary seats.
  • Dáil Éireann: Irish-only parliament established by Sinn Fein led by Eamon de Valera.
  • IRA Collaboration: Sinn Fein allies with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to prepare for conflict.

Start of the War

  • Declaration of Independence (Jan 21, 1919): Dáil declares independence from British rule.
  • Initial Violence: IRA ambushes two policemen at Soloheadbeg, often regarded as the war's start.

IRA Tactics

  • Guerrilla Warfare: IRA avoids pitched battles, using ambushes and small-scale attacks with makeshift weapons.
  • Decentralized Structure: Allowed for local initiative and rapid response, making it difficult for the RIC to counter effectively.

British Response

  • RIC Special Reserve (Black and Tans): Formed in March 1920 to combat the IRA, often resorting to violence against civilians.
  • Escalation of Violence: By 1920, IRA attacks intensified, killing 143 police, while British reprisals fueled resentment.

Civilian Impact

  • Sinn Fein Parallel State: Established courts and policing structures, undermining British authority.
  • Public Sentiment: Many Catholics sympathized with the IRA, leading to a breakdown of cooperation with British institutions.

Key Events

  • Bloody Sunday (Nov 21, 1920): IRA executes British intelligence members; British police kill 14 civilians in retaliation during a football match.
  • Increased Violence: Both sides suffer from high casualties, leading to further reprisals and a spiraling cycle of violence.

British Strategy Shift

  • Auxiliary Division: New paramilitary force created to combat IRA; often involved in violence against civilians rather than effective counterinsurgency.
  • Martial Law: Declared in response to escalating violence, but did not resolve the underlying issues.

Truce and Treaty Talks

  • Truce (July 1921): Established due to exhaustion on both sides; political negotiations begin.
  • Treaty Terms: Proposed Irish Free State with an oath to the Crown, maintaining British military presence in Ulster.
  • Political Crisis: Divisions arise within Irish republicans about accepting the treaty, leading to internal conflict.

Conclusion

  • Civil War Looming: Following the treaty, tensions escalate within Ireland, leading to the potential for civil war amid the struggle for full independence.