The Irish Civil War
--> ich wär euch echt dankbar, wenn ihr mal drüberlesen und ein paar fehler korrigieren könntet
At first the General information:
The Irish Civil War, was a conflict in Ireland from 1922 to 1923 between the opponents and the proponents of the Anglo – Irish Treaty.
This treaty ended the Irish Revolution against British rule and established the Irish Free State.
Now to the Background:
The most importatnt Irish negotiators of that contract were Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins.
Arthur Griffith fought for the autonomy (what means self-goverment) of Ireland. He was the founder and leader of the in Ireland dominant party Sinn Fein. Its aim was the political, economic and cultural independence of Ireland from Britain.
Michael Collins was an Irish patriot and also a freedom fighter. He works as finance minister for the Sinn Fein.
(Anglo – Irish – Treaty and its proponents)
Back to Anglo – Irish Treaty:
It means the splitting of Ireland in a north and a south part.
The province around Ulster was protestant area, which was a part of the United Kingdom.
South Ireland became a Free State with an relatively autonomy status within the British Empire. The Free State would have its own parliament and government, full control over its finances, and its own army. proponents also argued that there would be an opportunity to achieve greater freedom at a later date.
Thereafter heavy discussions of the Irish national parlament followed. At the 7. of January 1922 the majority accepted the Treaty as the first stepp to an absolute autonomy. Griffith was elected choosen as prime minister of the Free State.
(Anglo – Irish – Treaty and its opponents)
But there were also many people who disliked the treaty: the republican part of the Sinn Fein and the majority of the IRA – the Irish Republican Army. They rejected especially the separation of Ulster. You can see this here on the map: This all is Ulster and just a part of the whole region would be north Ireland.. So this treaty means a division of Ulster.
The lead for the republican part of the Sinn Fein was taken by Eamon de Valere. He resign his positions as president – just to show his protest.
The Irish Civil War:
The IRA split into proponents and opponents of the treaty. The proponents passed to the regulary force of the Irish Army and the opponents fought irregulary against the contract.
Proceedings between opponents and the government , which was standing behind the treaty, stayed without any success. In April 1922 the anti – treaty part of the IRA occupied the courth house in Dublin. After the demand to leave the building, the occupying force of the courth house decided to bomb the armed forces. From Dublin, these forces expended into the surrounding country, recording a numer of further victories.
The Irish Civil War broke out in June 1922. So the British government pressurised Griffith to use force of arms against the IRA. The fights diffused very quickly, but the propenents of the treaty kept the upper hand. At the end of August they kept the most big cities in south Ireland under their control. But the anti – treaty fraction was not giving up: They attackted the pro – treaty military and the country´s infrastructure by bombing bridges and roads and cutting the railways.
Nevertheless at the beginnig of year 1923 the proponents won – of course. Their troops were stronger, they get support from the Brits and what is more: they were outnumber!
In April 1923, the weapons were laid down.
And at last the Consequences:
This ending of the Irish Civil War was the actual reason fort he definitiv division of Ireland.
The War was short, but bloody. 4000 people died and a lot of Irish historical buildings were destroyed. But this was not the absolutely end of the conflict. One can see still today the influences of this Civil War in the Irish policity. The two biggest parties are still the Fianna Feil, which is Republican, and the Fine Gael, which is standing behind the division of Ireland. So the old conflict is still „up-to-date“.
To say this in summary:
The Irish Civil War resulted from the conflict about the Anglo – Irish – Treaty. This treaty means a splitting of Ireland in two parts: Northern Ireland, which should be Protestant area and Southern Ireland, what should be an Irish Free State.
After heavy discussions the majority accepted the treaty. But the anti – treaty part, like the IRA fought also for its position. And so the Civil War broke out in June 1922. Finally the proponents of the treaty wonn the beginning of 1923, because they had stronger stoops and were outnumber.
But we can see still today the influences in the Irish policity, if we look at the two biggest parties.