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Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

author:One eye and ten lines Zhou Botong
Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

Wen 丨 One eye ten lines Zhou Botong

Editor丨Ichimoku Ten Lines Zhou Botong

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Around the 5th century AD, Christianity was introduced to Ireland, many monasteries and schools were established, and a unique cultural and literary tradition was formed.

However, the medieval period was also a time of struggle between the Kingdom of England and Ireland. The kings of England tried to expand their sphere of influence by conquering and colonizing Ireland.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

At the end of the 12th century, King Henry II of England began his conquest of Ireland and established English rule in Ireland.

From the late 12th century to the early 16th century, Ireland under English rule experienced continuous English colonization and domination. The English nobility and army entered Ireland, established their own fiefdoms, and forced the Irish to accept the laws and rule of England.

Irish lands were confiscated and they were forced to abandon their traditional institutions and culture. This period was also a time of many revolts and uprisings in Irish history, including the Brewster Blood (1641) and the reign of William Orange.

At the end of the 18th century, an uprising led by Irish republicans broke out in Ireland to overthrow British rule and establish an independent Republic of Ireland.

The uprising was suppressed by British forces, but its effects lasted, prompting the British government to pass the Incorporation Act (1800) to unite Ireland with Britain to form the united United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

In 1916, Irish nationalists launched the Easter Uprising in Dublin in an attempt to fight for Irish independence. Although the uprising itself was suppressed, the incident sparked wider anti-British sentiment.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

In 1919, the Republic of Ireland declared its independence and the Anglo-Irish War (1919-1921) broke out.

After the Anglo-Irish War, Ireland was granted a degree of self-government. Under the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921), the Irish Free State was established, a self-governing territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

However, this settlement caused disagreements, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War (1922-1923). In the end, the independents, led by Michael Collins, triumphed and established the Irish Free State.

Over time, dissatisfaction with British rule continued, and calls for Irish independence grew.

In the Constitution adopted in 1937, the Irish Free State proclaimed the "Republic of Ireland" and officially changed its current name to "Ireland".

However, it was not until 1949 that Ireland finally broke away from British formal rule and declared itself a fully independent republic.

The origin and development of the Irish independence movement

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

At the end of the 19th century, Irish peasants faced land problems and British oppression.

The Unity Party, founded in 1882, and the Land League, formed in 1879, were important organisations in the early Irish independence movement. The Unity Party aims to fight for Irish autonomy through parliamentary means, while the Land Alliance works for land reform and farmers' rights.

In 1916, the Easter Rising led by the Republic of Ireland broke out in Dublin, becoming an important milestone in the modern Irish independence movement.

The leaders of the uprising included the likes of Padery Excollin and James Connolly. Although the uprising itself was suppressed by British troops, it inspired broader anti-British sentiment and promoted the further development of the independence movement.

In 1919, the Republic of Ireland was proclaimed and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) began guerrilla warfare against British troops. This marked the beginning of the Anglo-Irish War, which lasted more than two years.

In this war, the Irish independence movement fought guerrilla warfare and resistance against the British and Auxiliary Divisions.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

In 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed by representatives of the British Government and the Republic of Ireland, ending the Anglo-Irish War. By treaty, the Irish Free State was established, a self-governing territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. However, the content of the treaty caused internal divisions, leading to the outbreak of civil war.

In 1922–1923, civil war broke out when the Anglo-Irish Treaty disagreed over the question of whether to accept the British monarch as head of state. The war split the Irish independence camp into a "Free State Army" that supported the treaty and an "Republican Army" that opposed the treaty. In the end, the Free State Army was victorious.

After the end of the Civil War, the Irish Free State was formed at the end of 1922, but it remained part of the British Empire and the monarch was the King of England. The establishment of the Irish Free State did not meet the independence demands of all Irish people, so the independence movement continued.

In 1937, Ireland officially changed the name of the country by declaring itself the "Republic of Ireland" through a new constitution. However, it was not until 1949 that Ireland formally seceded from the United Kingdom through the Declaration of the Republic and became a fully independent republic.

British reaction to the Irish independence movement

In the early years of the Irish independence movement, the British government used military measures to counter the rebellion. Between 1900 and 1922, the British sent a large number of troops and police forces to Ireland in an attempt to suppress independence and restore order.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

In order to suppress the independence movement, the British government enacted a series of emergency laws. For example, the Irish Special Powers Act of 1914 gave the government broad powers to arrest and detain independent activists, disband organizations and conduct searches.

In 1919-1921, a key stage in the Irish independence movement, the British government took military action against the IRA's guerrilla warfare.

The British army sent auxiliary forces such as the Black and Tans and the Auxiliary Division to fight. During the war, the British army resorted to harsh measures, repression and retaliation.

In 1921, after the Anglo-Irish War, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, providing Ireland with limited self-government. Although the treaty laid the foundation for the establishment of the Irish Free State, it also caused internal divisions and conflicts.

In 1922-1923, the British government supported the Irish Free State government against the Republican Army that opposed the treaty. The British provided military aid and intelligence support to help the Free State Army gain an advantage in the civil war.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

However, during the Civil War, British troops were also accused of committing some serious human rights violations.

During the Irish independence movement, the British government imposed economic sanctions on Ireland. They restricted Irish trade, blocked ports, and tried to weaken support for the independence movement through economic means.

On 24 April 1916, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Irish Volunteers, and the Women's Republican Army of Ireland revolted and occupied some key buildings in Dublin, including the Grana Telegraph Office and Kelda Square.

From April 25 to April 29, 1916, the insurgents fought fiercely with British troops that lasted six days. The insurgents put up stubborn resistance in places such as Kelda Square.

The British government became aware of the uprising and quickly sent troops and the Black and Tans to attack the rebel-controlled areas.

From 26 April to 29 April 1916, fierce fighting continued, with British troops using heavy weapons against the insurgents. On 29 April 1916, the last position of the insurgents at Kelda Square was breached by British troops and the uprising failed.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

From May 3 to May 12, 1916, the British government arrested, tried, and executed leaders and activists involved in the uprising. Leaders such as Patrick Pearce, James Connery and Thomas Clark were executed during this time.

Civil War in the Republic of Ireland

In December 1921, the Republic of Ireland signed the Treaty of Irish Free State with the United Kingdom. The treaty created a semi-independent form of government for Ireland, the Irish Free State.

In January 1922, the Irish National Assembly passed a resolution accepting the treaty, but the resolution caused division. Those opposed to acceptance of the treaty argued that it was contrary to the principles of the Republic of Ireland and that independence should be upheld.

In June 1922, civil war broke out. The civil war arose by a disagreement between acceptance and rejection of treaties. The pro-treaty National Army was led by Michael Collins, while the anti-treaty Irish Republican Army (IRA) was led by Cathal Brugha.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

During the Civil War, fierce fighting was fought between the two sides, including many towns and rural areas within Ireland. In May 1923, the civil war lasted for about a year, causing a great deal of casualties and destruction.

Eventually, government forces in the Republic of Ireland gained the upper hand and opposition to the treaty was suppressed. After the end of the Civil War, the Republic of Ireland developed a relatively stable political situation, although social and political divisions remained.

Anglo-Irish Treaty and the establishment of the Irish Free State

At the Ireland Conference held in London from 6 December to 8 December, representatives of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland negotiated Ireland's future status.

On 6 December, a delegation of Irish nationalists and a delegation of the British Government signed the Treaty of the Irish Free State.

On 7 January, the Irish National Assembly (composed of representatives elected during the Irish War of Independence) met in Dublin and voted to accept the Irish Free State Treaty.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

On 22 January, the elected government of the Irish National Assembly was formed as the Government of the Irish Free State. On 18 April 1922, the Irish Free State was established, replacing the Republic of Ireland. 28 April: The new government of the Irish Free State is sworn in.

On 6 December 1922, the Irish Free State joined the United Nations and became one of the founding members.

In the Constitution adopted in 1937, the Irish Free State was renamed the Republic of Ireland to further emphasise its sovereign independence.

On December 20, 1926, the United Kingdom and Ireland signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement, also known as the "Golden Key Agreement". The agreement confirmed the status of the Irish Free State as a self-governing territory of the British Empire.

11 December 1931: The Westminster Act is passed, under which the Irish Free State becomes a fully self-governing territory of the British Empire and receives full constitutional powers.

On 29 December 1937, Ireland adopted a new constitution proclaiming the Republic of Ireland and formally withdrawing from the British Empire.

The UK's position on Northern Ireland

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

At the beginning of the 20th century, Northern Ireland became part of the United Kingdom, which sparked discontent and protests among Irish nationalists. Britain adopted a hard-line policy at the time, insisting on maintaining Northern Ireland's status to ensure its rule in Britain.

This has led to a series of conflicts and tensions, including violence and political confrontation.

In the second half of the 20th century, Britain gradually changed its position on Northern Ireland.

In the 60s and 70s of the 20th century, as violent conflicts escalated, the British government realized that traditional hard-line policies would not solve the problem and began to seek peaceful solutions. This marks the beginning of the peace process.

In 1985, the United Kingdom and Ireland signed the Hillsborough Agreement, which provided a new framework for political and religious divisions in Northern Ireland.

Irish independence and the evolution of British relations

In the years that followed, the British Government actively participated in the peace process in Northern Ireland, including dialogue and consultation with the Irish Government and political parties.

Finally, in 1998, the British government and other relevant parties reached the Anglo-Irish Agreement, also known as the Good Peace Agreement. This agreement provided Northern Ireland with a political framework to ensure the participation and power-sharing of different stakeholders, and through this agreement the British government recognized the right of the people of Northern Ireland to determine their political future.

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