The Home Rule Crisis & WW1

John Redmond and Home RuleJohn Redmond was leader of the Home Rule PartyWanted “Semi-independence” from BritainIn 1910 he convinced Prime Minister Herbert Asquith to grant

home rule to Ireland. Due to start in 1914…

Asquith

1911 – The Parliament ActKing George V decided that the Veto of the House of Lords was Undemocratic.

He forced the House of Lords to pass the Act which weakened their power – now they could only delay laws for 2 Years.

1912 – Home Rule at last1912 – Asquith (Liberal Prime Minister) gets home rule approved by the House of Commons.

Set to come into effect by 1914 as House of Lords can no longer block it.

The Unionist ResponseUnionists hated the idea of Home Rule – felt that Protestants

would be discriminated by Catholics under Home RuleSlogan – “Home Rule is Rome Rule” – this referred to the

Roman Catholic Church and the power it could have under Home Rule

Two Leaders – Sir Edward Carson (L) and Sir James Craig (R)

Unionist ResponseCarson and Craig organised a campaign against Home Rule Mass Protests held and ½ a million people signed the “Ulster

Covenant” – highlighting their opposition to Home RuleAlso set up armed groups to fight the proposed introduction of

Home Rule – The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF, still in existence today)

Imported guns into Larne, Co. Antrim to ensure they were ready to fight

After that Nationalists had to respond too…

Signing the Ulster Covenant

UVF in Training - 1912

Nationalist ResponseNationalists responded by setting up their own armed force –

The Irish National Volunteers – and importing arms into HowthIt now looked likely that War was going to break out in Ireland

between Unionists and Nationalists. Asquith wanted the two sides to agree to split Ireland in two –

this was known as Partition. Neither side could agree on where the border would be.

But suddenly in July 1914, World War 1 broke out – this meant that the whole idea of Partition/Home Rule was put to one side while the war was on!

Guns smuggled into Howth

Irish Volunteers

World War One

Ireland and World War 1Most Irish People opposed Germany in World War OneA majority of both Unionists and Nationalists supported

Ireland being involved in the War and many Nationalists as well as Unionists joined the British Army

Redmond appeared on posters urging nationalists to do their part in the war

206,000 Irishmen fought30,000 Irishmen died

Home Rule POSTPONED until end of war