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The rise of Unionist opposition
The Unionists, who were also called the Loyalists, were mostly Protestant and wanted to be a part of UK. The Unionists controlled the government in North Ireland. The protestants in Ulster were afraid, that the catholics would gain power again, they saw both revolutionary and parliamentary nationalists as the enemy, and to get protection, they started a party, the Ulster Unionist Party.
From 1790-1914 the rise of Unionist opposition, fought against Home Rule. -
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The Republicans and the Nationalists
The Republicans are mostly catholics, and fight for establishing the Republic of Ireland. They want an independent country, were they are ruled by democracy and with a president, instead of the Royal family. They gathered together around 1820, and compared to the Nationalists, the republicans were willing to stay part of the British Empire.
The Nationalists came before the republicans, and they fought for Ireland being a seperated Nation.
They wanted to free Ireland from British rule. -
The Easter Rising
The parlimentary nationalists had been promised home rule in autumn 1914, but because of the World War I, the agreedment had been delayed.
This led to the Revolutionary Nationalists loosing their patience and therefor a small group of Fenians organised an armed rising in Dublin. They took over the General Post Office, and proclaimed Ireland an independent Republic.
Nevertheless they got little support from the ordinary Catholics, and the group of men were later on executed for the rising. -
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The Irish War of Independence
After Sinn Fein won the election, and adopted the Declaration of Independence, the British army started fighting against the IRA. It was a war between unionists and nationalists.
The war ended in 1921, with The Truce being signed on July 11th 1921, this was called the Anglo-Irish treaty, which later on lead to the establishment of The Irish Free State. -
The Irish Free State
1921, a group of leading Sinn Fein and IRA members, went to London and talked to the British Parliament. In december 1921, they signed a treaty with the british, and the 26 countries of Southern Ireland became know as the Irish Free State. This was an independent state, but still a part of the british empire.
This was called The Anglo-Irish Treaty
