NATIONALISTS AND UNIONISTS The lead up to the creation of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State in 1921.

SOME KEY DATES AND IDEAS. 1800 : THE ACT OF UNION – after the rebellion of 1798 the Irish Parliament was abolished and all of Ireland was joined with Britain in what was called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Every decision to do with Ireland was made in the Westminster Parliament in London.

Nationalists were against the Union They were mainly Catholic and wanted Ireland to rule itself as far as possible. They believed British rule of Ireland held the country back and meant Irish culture was suppressed and Catholics were not treated fairly (since Britain was a mainly Protestant nation.)

UNIONISTS SUPPORTED THE UNION They were mainly Protestant and they were descended from the settlers who had been put on land taken from the Gaelic Irish in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were only 25% of the population and were concentrated in the North East. They had been given a lot of power and control of Ireland by Britain as they were loyal to the King and the Union.

THE HOME RULE MOVEMENT The Famine convinced many Irish nationalists that Ireland could never be properly governed by Britain and a new generation of leaders pushed hard for Home Rule. This would give Ireland its own Parliament with control over most things except for tax, the army and foreign affairs. It would not be total Independence but a big improvement on complete rule from London.

UNIONISTS OPPOSE HOME RULE The Unionists were very strongly against home rule for a number of reasons. Ethnic – they felt very close to Britain and were afraid that under Home Rule they would not be allowed to express their sense of identity. Freedom of Religion – they feared that Home rule would equal Rome Rule ie) That a Home Rule Parliament would make Catholic teaching the law, for this reason they thought Home Rule would take away some of their freedoms.

UNIONISTS OPPOSE HOME RULE Economic – they feared Home Rule would damage the Irish economy as businesses which under the Union could trade freely within the Empire would now have to pay taxes and tariffs to export their goods. This could make Irish businesses less competitive.

THE HOME RULE CRISES 1912-1914 The British passed a Home Rule Bill in 1912 which meant Ireland was due to get Home Rule in 1914. This happened because the ruling party at the time needed the support of the Home Rule party to form a government. The Home Rule party would only give them support if they agreed to pass Home Rule. Most Nationalists were happy with Home Rule at this time and did not believe that complete Independence (a Republic) was possible.

HOME RULE CRISES 1912 - 1914 The Unionists were horrified and pledged to resist Home Rule even if it meant fighting the British Army. 400,000 Unionists signed the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant – stating their complete opposition to Home Rule and willingness to fight if necessary. They set up a private army called the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force), they imported arms into the country at Larne in 1914.

THE NATIONALIST RESPONSE The Nationalists set up The Irish Volunteers and pledged to fight for Home Rule if the British failed to grant Home Rule. They also imported arms at Howth in 1914. With two armed groups both willing to fight for their beliefs it looked to many as if Ireland was on the verge of Civil War.

THE BRITISH PROPOSE PARTITION To try and avoid civil war the British suggested that Ireland be partitioned so that there was a Unionist controlled North-East and a Nationalist controlled South. When World War 2 broke out in 1914 the whole issue was shelved until after the war ended. Both the UVF and most of the Irish Volunteers joined the British army to put pressure on the British to side with them.

1916 RISING/RISE OF SINN FEIN A group of Republicans (want complete and total indepedence and are willing to fight for it) staged a rebellion on Easter 1916. They were mainly members of the Sinn Fein party that was not as well supported as the Home Rule party. When the British executed the leaders public opinion turned to Sinn Fein and nationalist Irish people began to demand complete Independence and a Republic, not just Home Rule.

Rise of sinn fein In the 1918 general election Sinn Fein swept most of the seats, destroyed the Home Rule party, refused to go to Westminster and set up their own Parliament in January 1919 called Dail Eireann. The Irish Volunteers now called themselves the IRA and started attacking the police and British army to force them to leave Ireland.

Government of ireland act 1920 Under this act Ireland was divided into two (partitioned). Southern Ireland had 26 counties and was 93% Catholic. Northern Ireland had 6 counties and was 66% Protestant. The IRA and Sinn Fein refused to accept this and continued to fight for an all-Ireland republic until the end of the war of Independence when they signed a Treaty with Britain.

THE TREATY It called “Southern Ireland” the IRISH FREE STATE. It promised a border commission to look at and change the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State if it was unfair in any places. Irish Nationalists were led to believe that Northern Ireland would be made so small that it would no longer be able to exist.

Nationalist unhappiness The Unionists knew that the majority of the Catholic/Nationalists opposed the creation of the state and were determined to limit any power or influence they might have. They abolished Proportional Representation which maximises the votes of minorities and replaced it with a first past the post system to maximise their control of all aspects of life and power in Northern Ireland.

What was a nationalist? Give three reasons why a person might be a nationalist? Explain what is meant by “self government for Ireland”? Explain what is meant by a “Unionist”? Give three reasons why a person might have been a Unionist in 1910.