The Easter Rising of 1916

The 1916 Irish Easter Uprising Ever since the occupation of Ireland by the English began in 1169, Irish patriots have fought back against British rule, and the many Irish rebellions and civil wars had always been defeated. To quash further rebellion, the Act of Union was imposed in 1800, tying Ireland to the United Kingdom of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Laws discriminating against Catholics and the handling of the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-50 led to increased tension and the proposal of introducing Home Rule gained support. In 1913 there was a general strike of workers in Dublin led by James Connolly of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (I.T.G.W.U.). This action was followed by the 1913 Lock-Out during which employers literally locked workers out of their factories.

The new crisis began to develop in September 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, when the British government suspended the recently enacted Home Rule Bill, which guaranteed a measure of political autonomy to Ireland. Suspension of the bill stimulated the growth of the Citizen Army, an illegal force of Dublin citizens organised by the labour leader Jim Larkin (died 1948) and the socialist James Connolly (1870-1916); of the Irish Volunteers, a national defence body; and of the extremist Sinn Féin. The uprising was planned by leaders of these organisations, among whom were the British consular agent Sir Roger David Casement, the educator Padhraic Pearse (1879-1916), and the poet Thomas MacDonagh (1878-1916). Hostilities began about noon on April 24, when about 2000 men led by Pearse seized control of the Dublin post office and other strategic points within the city. Shortly after these initial successes, the leaders of the rebellion proclaimed the Independence of Ireland and announced the establishment of a provisional government of the Irish Republic.

Easter Rising of 1916 The events of Easter Monday, the 24th of April, 1916 triggered a bloody confrontation that would have important ramifications both for the Irish people and the British Empire. What would later become known as the Easter Rising was an attempt to end British rule in Ireland. At the onset of the First World War in 1914 the Irish Home Rule Bill was suspended, returning the Irish people to direct rule by the British government. This was viewed as a slap in the face by many in Ireland. It became the primary source of tension between the Royal Irish Constabulary, an armed police force appointed by the British Crown, and opposing rebel groups.

“The result was the Act of Union of 1801: the Irish parliament voted itself out of existence and England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales were formally politically unified for the first time” (Hegarty 2). Around the time of the First World War, Ireland began the fight for the Home Rule to be enacted. But this kind of rule was quickly overturned with the start of the Easter Rising in 1916; two years after World War I broke out in Europe. The pull of the Home Rule Act led to the formation of the Citizen Army which was a major cause of the Easter Rising. James Connolly used the Citizen Army to protect his newspaper “The Workers’ Republic” to call for an armed revolt (Green 5).

Furthermore, Britain forbade Catholics from providing education for their own children. Catholics could not be teachers and parents could not send their children abroad for education without forfeiture of their property and citizenship (The Outlook, pg 117). Although these actions by the British government infuriated the Irish, the new wave of rebellion actually began again in 1914 with the British government's repeal of the recently enacted Home Rule Bill, which gave the Irish some measure of political autonomy. These feelings came to a peak on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916 in the Irish capital of Dublin when approximately 1500 men, led by Pearse, seized the post office and other strategic points. These men were members of the Citizen Army, an illegal force of Dublin citizens organized by labor leader Jim Larkin and socialist James Connolly.

The next two centuries, differences between Protestants and Catholics increased. The Irish monarchy, parliament and government based in Dublin, enforced several new laws against Catholics. In 1801, in an attempt to increase the direct control of Ireland, the Irish government were abolished and it’s responsibilities taken over by England. During the 19th century several movements tried overthrowing the new government. Some using legal measures and some uses physical force to achieve their goal.

These two thoughts were opposite in how nationalism was attempted to be achieved. The Irish Republican Army (IRA), was started on Easter in 1916, when a group of Irish militants refused to wait any longer for their independence from Britain. The small group launched a revolt against British rule. Although the Easter Rising was quickly suppressed, the execution of 15 rebel leaders stirred wider support for their cause. When Britain again failed to grant home rule in 1919, civil war erupted in Ireland.

The explosions were blamed on the IRA, but really were the work of the Ulster Protestants Volunteers (UPV), who were trying to discredit the Catholics. The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Terence O’ Neill resigned in April of 1969 after the General Election. The Unionists felt that he was giving into the Civil Rights group. The Protestant Orange marches sparked off further trouble in July 1969, but it was the Apprentice Boys march in Derry during August that brought wholesale violence to the streets. The march passed the Catholic Bogside and the police became involved in the riots.

As the years went on, the Irish people fought for a Home Rule bill to pass through their parliament. But, repeatedly the bill was struck down. Eventually a group of Irish Republicans had enough of British rule in Ireland and mounted a rebellion. The rebellion was not only caused by because of the British failur... ... middle of paper ... ...tion.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/12-13-14/41 (accessed March 17, 2014). Irish Republican Army.

The unionists want to be governed by England's parliament however; the Nationalists in Northern Ireland do not. The Nationalists in the Republic are Independent and want a untied Ireland. Easter Rising, 1916 =================== The Easter Rising took place in April 1916;it was one of many rebellions held by Nationalists in an attempt to get independence for Ireland. However, this rebellion was much more intense and violent that those before. Several events led up to the Easter Rising, all of which had an influence on what happened.