Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921
Were the terms of the Anglo – Irish Treaty of December 1921 a realistic to settle the problems of Ireland?
First of all signing of the Treaty was a victory for the British government since they achieved what they set out to accomplish. Second and most important settlement in Ireland was impossible because Anglo-Irish Treaty split Sinn Fein, those who opposed Treaty led by Eamon de Valera and those who took a pragmatic response to the situation they faced led by Collins and Griffith. The terms of Treaty were not to the satisfaction of De Valera and his supporters, they were disappointed that a sovereign independent 32 county united Irish Republic had not been achieved. Collins argued that no better deal was possible at that time. To understand why settlement in Ireland was so difficult we have to assess the Treaty from point of view of all how were involved in it.
In January 1919 27 Sinn Fein members assembled in Dublin and formed first Dail Eireann. A provisional constitution was drawn up and there was a declaration of independence. The British did not take this provisional government seriously. 1920 Dail accepted IRA as the legitimate army of the republic but Dail did not really control IRA and many local units had autonomy. IRA disliked passive resistance and preferred military action against British rule. Response to IRA Lloyd George strengthened British administration by recruited several thousand ex-soldiers nicknamed “Black and Tans”. Guerrilla war went on for 2 years. During the final phase of conflict in 1921 the violence escalated sharply, as both the IRA and Crown Forces suffered increasing losses. Civilian casualties also rose significantly. 1921summer British Government offer a truce. British Government was under pressure of intellectuals, churchmen, and politicians at home and abroad. They have privately and publicly commented the action of Crown Force in particularly acts of indiscipline Black and Tans. It caused embarrassing publicity both
First of all signing of the Treaty was a victory for the British government since they achieved what they set out to accomplish. Second and most important settlement in Ireland was impossible because Anglo-Irish Treaty split Sinn Fein, those who opposed Treaty led by Eamon de Valera and those who took a pragmatic response to the situation they faced led by Collins and Griffith. The terms of Treaty were not to the satisfaction of De Valera and his supporters, they were disappointed that a sovereign independent 32 county united Irish Republic had not been achieved. Collins argued that no better deal was possible at that time. To understand why settlement in Ireland was so difficult we have to assess the Treaty from point of view of all how were involved in it.
In January 1919 27 Sinn Fein members assembled in Dublin and formed first Dail Eireann. A provisional constitution was drawn up and there was a declaration of independence. The British did not take this provisional government seriously. 1920 Dail accepted IRA as the legitimate army of the republic but Dail did not really control IRA and many local units had autonomy. IRA disliked passive resistance and preferred military action against British rule. Response to IRA Lloyd George strengthened British administration by recruited several thousand ex-soldiers nicknamed “Black and Tans”. Guerrilla war went on for 2 years. During the final phase of conflict in 1921 the violence escalated sharply, as both the IRA and Crown Forces suffered increasing losses. Civilian casualties also rose significantly. 1921summer British Government offer a truce. British Government was under pressure of intellectuals, churchmen, and politicians at home and abroad. They have privately and publicly commented the action of Crown Force in particularly acts of indiscipline Black and Tans. It caused embarrassing publicity both