World War I & Easter 1916

h1. World War I & Easter 1916

Unionism

 * At the turn of the century, strong strains of Unionism (desire to keep united with Britain) developed
 * Mostly this came from a new Irish Protestant elite
 * Orange Order develops as a organization of protestants in Ireland, particularly among laborers and farmers
 * Church of Ireland is dis-established as a "Church of Ireland" becomes a Church with no higher political value.
 * This actually helps the cause of Unionism -> more than just a religious affiliation
 * Orange Order proves to be an oppositional force to Nationalist tendencies of Land League & Land Reform movement
 * Though they agreed on need to


 * Celtic cultural revival takes place from fall of Parnell (1870) to World War I.
 * High point of Celtic/Gaelic flowering.
 * Also high point of Unionism


 * Colonel Saunderson
 * Founded Irish Unionist party that opposed Home Rule
 * Fiercely Anglican
 * 1886 - 1906 presided over Irish Unionist Party
 * Joined Orange Order (late)
 * Proved very powerful in UK Parliament


 * 1893 -> Second Home Rule Bill Fails


 * After failure of second Home Rule bill, Unionism increases, grows

Organized Labor

 * Irish industry based around a lot of shipping and transportation
 * Labor unions are small, not generally popular through 1900.
 * High level of destitution in Ireland, particularly Dublin
 * Dublin had worst Urban mortality rate in British isles
 * 25% of people lived in 1 room tenements, with four or more people.
 * Wave of strikes in early 1900 mostly won by employers


 * James Larkin & James Connel emerge as new labor leaders


 * Larkin combines Marxism & Irish Nationalism
 * Imagines connection to ancient celtic culture that was more "fair" and egalitarian before Norman conquest & social failure


 * Unions look to cut across secretarian lines to look for ways to improve things


 * Larkin was initially successful (agitation, raising employment


 * Protests got nasty/lots of riots with British

Home Rule Politics

 * John Redman -> Irish Parliamentary party, successor of Parnell
 * Home rule party has many names, eventually becomes ->
 * Sinn Fein (we ourselves) -> Self-reliance, self-rule
 * Very different at its founding that what it will become


 * Parliament Act -> House of Lords (from 1911 on, not as powerful)


 * In Ulster, Home Rule seemed impossible


 * By 1912 -> Partition was already on the table
 * Revision conceded that 9 counties of Ulster could opt out of Home Rule for up to 9 years
 * Paramilitaries begin to develop/form in Ireland
 * 250,000 Ulster Citizens signed forms opposing Home Rule
 * Violence breaks out throughout in Ireland
 * Impending war in Ulster (civil war between Protestants & Catholics)
 * May 1914 -> Home Rule Bill Passed
 * Ulster is given exemption
 * World War I suddenly occurs in August 1914 -> Suspends Home Rule Bill / Legislation
 * Agricultural boom in Ireland
 * Suddenly, what seemed inevitable (Irish Autonomy) is put-off/unresolved
 * Irish Nationalists felt cheated
 * Irish are asked to volunteer for WWI (lower than British/Australian volunteering)

Rebellion

 * Redman believed they could win further support for Home Rule by demonstrating commitment to British Empire
 * Split in Redman's "National Volunteers" over whether or not you should support the war
 * Other group emerges (with Fenian support) called "Irish Volunteers"
 * Following up on idea that English misfortune is Irish opportunity
 * Communication/Collaboration with German army (for arms and people)
 * Uprising cancelled because arms were intercepted

1916

 * Patrick Peirce -> Mystical man / Taught gaelic / believed in need for sacrifice
 * Small fringe group in Irish Volunteers feels need to actually follow through on promised revolution rebellion
 * On Easter Monday 1916 -> Pierce and his leaders seize Post Office and declare Irish Republic
 * Senseless violence and destruction takes place
 * Shocking amount of force used in suppressing the Irish
 * Series of executions shocked the Irish people
 * Martial law established in Dublin brought popular sympathy towards the Irish rebels


 * Connelly was particularly shocking -> Wounded in rebellion, too sick to be execution, tied to a chair and shot.
 * Francis Shenie Skiffington -> Pacifist killed for witnessing a British officer crime.


 * Public opinion shifts towards the Irish away from British

World War I

 * 21,000 died in first hour at Battle of Somme
 * Ulster division takes heavy casualties -> becomes symbolic dedication to British Empire


 * 1916 thus becomes moment for Irish Nationalists (Easter Uprising)
 * Irish Unionists (Battle of Somme)


 * 1916 has been called "cross-roads of memory"