The Irish Civil War and its Aftermath

Background

• Early 1920s Context:
  • The Irish Republican Army (IRA) engaged in guerrilla warfare with the British during the War of Independence.
  • A stalemate led to a British truce in 1921.
  • The state of Northern Ireland was created for unionists, remaining part of the UK.

The Anglo-Irish Treaty

• Negotiations:
  • Led by Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins, and Arthur Griffith.
  • Treaty created the 26-county Irish Free State, a Dominion of the British Empire.
  • Northern Ireland allowed to opt out, cementing partition.
  • Mixed reception in Ireland; debated in the Dáil.

Division and the Civil War

• Opposition and Support:

  • De Valera and others opposed the treaty, viewing it as a betrayal.
  • Collins saw the Free State as a stepping stone to full independence.
  • Dáil voted in favor of the treaty 64 to 57.

• Formation of Governments:

  • Arthur Griffith became president after de Valera and supporters left.
  • Pro-treaty TDS and unionist MPs formed the provisional government.

Outbreak of the Civil War

• Tensions and Conflict:

  • Sectarian violence continued in Northern Ireland with increased IRA membership.
  • Anti-treaty IRA occupied the Four Courts in Dublin, seeking a British response.
  • June 1922, Michael Collins ordered Free State Army to attack the Four Courts, starting the Civil War.

• Major Battles:

  • Battle of Dublin lasted six days.
  • Anti-treaty forces took guerrilla warfare tactics.
  • Free State forces gained control of major cities.

Key Figures and Events

• Deaths and Leadership Changes:

  • Michael Collins was ambushed and killed in August 1922.
  • Leadership under William T. Cosgrave enacted tough measures against the anti-treaty forces.

• Free State's Actions:

  • Executions of IRA prisoners.
  • Establishment of a new police force, the Garda Síochána.

Ceasefire and Aftermath

• IRA's End to Hostilities:

  • Frank Aiken called for a ceasefire in April 1923.
  • De Valera accepted the Free State's provisional victory.

• Political Reorganization:

  • De Valera formed Fianna Fáil, opposing Cumann na nGaedheal.
  • Fianna Fáil would later dominate politics alongside Fine Gael.

Legacy

• Long-term Effects:

  • Continued partition of Northern Ireland.
  • Irish political landscape dominated by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
  • Ireland officially became a republic in 1949.

• Peace Process:

  • The sectarian conflict continued until the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought relative peace.

Additional Information

• Sponsored Message:
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• Further Reading and Content:
  • Recommendations for additional resources on Irish history and ways to support the channel.