CREATIVE EVENTS

Module 4 (A2 2) – The Partition of Ireland c1900-1925

 

 

 

In this module, we go to Ireland for the first time.  You’ll find out here all about the events and issues surrounding the 3rd Home Rule Crisis, Ireland during the First World War (including the Easter Rising) and the formation of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.

 

We start this one in early February, and it takes us up to the end of March in Year 14.

 

 

 

Part One – The Home Rule Crisis c1910-1914

 

Here we explore the political developments in Ireland in the 1910-1914 period.  We focus on the concerns and actions of the main British and Irish parties – Liberals, Conservatives, Ulster Unionists and Irish Parliamentary Party.  We consider how much each was to blame for the 3rd Home Rule Crisis, how much each side attempted to compromise, and how successful each party was at getting what they wanted during the crisis.  We also think about how close Ireland actually was to civil war in 1914.

 

Key moments we explore during the 3rd Home Rule Crisis include

• the victory of the Liberals in the 1906 elections

• the 1910 elections and how this affected the prospects of Home Rule

• Asquith (Liberal PM) and his welfare reforms

• the Parliament Act of 1911

• the 3rd Home Rule Bill (and its significance)

• the Solemn League and Covenant and the formation of the UVF (and their significance)

• the Irish Volunteer Force

• Asquith’s amending proposals on Home Rule in spring 1914

• the Curragh “Mutiny”

• the Buckingham Palace Conference in summer 1914.

 

Part Two – Political events 1914-1918

 

We look at events between 1914 and 1916 both from the point of view of both the moderate nationalist party (the Irish Parliamentary Party) and the extreme nationalists who eventually carried out the Easter Rising.  We consider the strengths and weaknesses of the IPP, as well as the mistakes they made which eventually led to their downfall, such as supporting the British war effort.  Then we go on to the extreme nationalism or “New Nationalism” of Patrick Pearse, and the events leading up to, and causes of the Easter Rising.

 

We examine the Easter Rising, its immediate and later impact, and how and why nationalist politics in Ireland got more extreme as a result (with Pearse’s ideas becoming more and more popular).  You then find out all about the rise of Sinn Fein and the decline of the Irish Parliamentary Party.  You find out why Sinn Fein grew so rapidly in popularity (with their support for the Easter Rising and the Conscription Crisis being very important, as was the IPP’s acceptance of what eventually became Northern Ireland).  We finish off this part by going into the issues surrounding Sinn Fein’s big victory in the 1918 General Election.  Other matters that we cover in the 1916-1918 period are the Lloyd George talks and the Irish Convention.

 

Part Three – Events in Ireland 1918-1925

 

Following on from the 1918 General Election, Sinn Fein decided no to take their new seats in Westminster and to set up a parliament of their own in Dublin called the Dail.  We start with this, and Sinn Fein’s efforts (through Passive Resistance) to obstruct British government in Ireland.  Then we look at the War of Independence (or Anglo-Irish War) of 1919-21, and how the IRA (Sinn Fein’s military wing) challenged British power in Ireland.  At this point you work out who did better in the war (IRA or Crown forces) and what were the most important pressures on either side to look for a Truce.

 

Then we go on to explore the deal that brought the War of Independence to a formal end – the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921.  Here, you find out the key issues for both the British government and Sinn Fein during the Treaty negotiations, who got more out of the Treaty and the reaction to the Treaty in both Britain and Ireland (including Northern Ireland – formed in 1920).  The reaction to the Treaty is important, because it led to the Irish Civil War.  We investigate the causes of the Irish Civil War and the course of this war.  We consider the main reasons why those who supported the Treaty (and the Irish Free State which the Treaty created) won. 

 

Last, but not least, we see how Northern Ireland was created.  Due to events before and during World War One, the British government was committed to 6 county/26 county partition of Ireland.  Northern Ireland was to be the 6 county part.  The law that created Northern Ireland was the Government of Ireland Act (1920), which was also an unsuccessful attempt to end the War of Independence.  We go into detail on the Government of Ireland Act, thinking carefully about how realistic it was as a settlement for all of Ireland, how successful it was, and who got most out of it (Ulster Unionists?, Irish Parliamentary Party?, Sinn Fein?). 

 

Finally, we look at Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State in their early years (1921-1925) and how each government responded to the problems that confronted them. (security, economic, civil strife, the machinery of government  etc).  We also look at the limited impact of the Boundary Commission on Northern Ireland.

 

 

The Exam

 

 

 

• The exam for this module will be taken at the end of Year 14

• It will last 2 hours

• It makes up 30% of the total A Level

• In the exam, you get the opportunity to display your skills in extended writing and sources