1. 21 The New State Political Developments in Ireland in the 20th Century
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
At the end of this chapter you should understand ...
How Cumann na nGaedheal built up the new state.
Why de Valera and Fianna Fáil won the 1932 general election.
How de Valera overcame the problems he faced.
How Ireland dealt with World War II.
The work of the First Inter-Party government.
The problems of the 1950s.
Seán Lemass as Taoiseach.
Political developments in the 1970s.
Political developments in the 1980s.

2. Cumann na nGaedheal in Power, 1923–32 Manage relations with Britain
Establish
Law and order
Manage relations with Britain
What problems did the Cumann na nGaedheal government face?
Rebuild the
economy

3. Cumann na nGaedheal in Power, 1923–32
Constitution of
the Free State
Law and Order
Set up Garda Síochána
Court system
Public Safety Act
Army mutiny
‘Those who take the pay and wear the uniform of the state, be they soldiers or police, must be non-political servants of the state.’
Kevin O’Higgins

4. Cumann na nGaedheal in Power, 1923–32
Agriculture more important than manufacturing industry
Quality standards
The Economy
Improved breeding methods
Loans and low taxes for farmers
Increased agricultural exports
How well did the government manage
the economy?
The Shannon Scheme

5. Cumann na nGaedheal in Power, 1923–32
The Boundary Commission
Commonwealth conferences
Relations with Britain
Balfour Declaration
Statute of Westminster
How well did the government manage relations with Britain?

6. Cumann na nGaedheal in Power, 1923–32
Failure of Boundary Commission
The Great
Depression
The Decline of Cumann na nGaedheal
Founding of
Fianna Fáil
Cut spending – pay of garda and teachers, shilling off old age pension

7. Cumann na nGaedheal in Power, 1923–32
1932 general election results
Fianna Fáil 72
Cumann na nGaedheal 57
Labour Party 7
Farmers’ Party 3
Independents 14
Why did Fianna Fáil win the 1932 general election?

8. Fianna Fáil in Power Challenges Dismantling the Treaty
New constitution
Building the economy
IRA and Blueshirts
Challenges
Economic War
Cumann na nGaedheal government
Fianna Fáil
government
1922
1948
Irish Governments 1922–1948
1932

9. Fianna Fáil in Power Dismantling the Treaty Statute of Westminster
Abolished Oath of Allegiance
Abolished office of Governor- general
Removed King as head of state
New constitution
What did de Valera do to dismantle the Anglo-Irish Treaty?

10. Fianna Fáil in Power The IRA and the Blueshirts Released IRA prisoners
‘No free speech to traitors’
ACA
Eoin O’Duffy
Founding of Fine Gael
De Valera and the IRA

11. Fianna Fáil in Power The ‘Economic War’ – Relations with Britain
Land annuities
Tariffs on Irish cattle
Taxes on British imports
Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1938
Lump sum – £10m
Tariffs dropped
Treaty ports returned
The Economy
Protectionism
Sean Lemass, Minister for Industry & Commerce
Irish Sugar Company
Aer Lingus

12. The Emergency: Ireland during World War II
Showed Ireland’s independence
NI still part of UK
Why neutral?
Ireland too weak

13. The Emergency: Ireland during World War II
Dangers to Neutrality
Britain and the United States
The IRA
Germany
What dangers did each of the above present to Irish neutrality?

14. The Emergency: Ireland during World War II
Shortages and Rationing
Sean Lemass, Minister for Supplies
Irish Shipping
Rationing
Black market
Fuel shortages
Glimmer men
Trains – turf instead of coal
Unemployment
Emigration to Britain

15. The First Inter-Party Government, 1948–51
Change of government after 16 years
Shortage, unemployment, emigration after the war
Why did de Valera lose the 1948 general election?

16. The First Inter-Party Government, 1948–51
Fine Gael
Labour Party
Clann na Poblachta
The First Inter-party Government
Taoiseach,
John A Costello
Minister for External Affairs,
Seán MacBride
Minster for Health,
Noel Browne

17. The First Inter-Party Government, 1948–51
Declared a Republic
Set up IDA to attract foreign industry
Mother & Child Scheme
Marshall aid for houses and hospitals
Work of the First Inter-Party Government
Eradicate TB
Rural electrification

18. Ireland in the 1950s
Irish Governments 1948–1959
1948–51
Inter-Party
government
1951–54
Fianna Fáil
government
1954–57
Inter-Party
government
1957–59
Fianna Fáil
government
What problems did Irish governments face in the 1950s?

19. Seán Lemass and the 1960s Seán Lemass As Taoiseach The Economy
Northern Ireland
Seán Lemass
As Taoiseach
Social change
Education

20. Jack Lynch as Taoiseach
Years of Uncertainty, 1966–85
Political Developments in the 1970s
Jack Lynch as Taoiseach
Northern Ireland
Ireland and
the EEC
The Arms Crisis
Downfall of the King
How well did Jack Lynch’s government deal with the problems it faced?

21. Political Developments in the 1970s
Ireland and the EEC
Farmers better off – guaranteed prices
Some jobs lost
Why Join
Benefit to Irish economy
Why Not Join
Ireland would lose some independence
Effects of EEC membership
Aid (grants) for job training, roads, etc.
Foreign companies attracted to Ireland
Referendum – Majority of
people in favour
Downfall of the King

22. Political Developments in the 1970s
Coalition Government
Problems
The Economy
The Troubles
Oil prices
Unemployment
Inflation
Sunningdale Agreement
Bombings in Dublin and Monaghan
How well did the Coalition government deal with the problems it faced?

23. Political Developments in the 1970s
Political Instability
Coalition government – Fine Gael, Labour Party
Fianna Fáil Government
Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald
Taoiseach Charles Haughey
Signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985

24. After 1985 – Recent Years
How well did the Coalition government deal with the problems it faced?