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.