Union to Partition

Introductory Transcript

From 1919-21 Ireland went through a period often called ‘The Troubles’. IRA activists fought an underground war against police and British troops. In addition, Ulster suffered from sectarian violence between the Protestant and Catholic communities.

By 1921 the British government and Sinn Fein were looking for ways to end the conflict. A truce was called in July 1921. Several months of talks followed before formal negotiations started in October 1921.

Months of hard negotiating resulted in the Anglo Irish Treaty of December 1921. Ireland was partitioned into the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland.

Opinions in Northern Ireland were divided over the treaty. Some Unionists saw it as a victory for Sinn Fein. Some Nationalists saw it as a betrayal. However, the majority on both sides of the new border accepted the Treaty.

Despite this, some extremists were not prepared to accept it. In the newly formed Irish Free State, anti Treaty forces began a bitter civil war which was to cost more lives than the War of Independence which the Treaty was supposed to end.

Investigation

In December 1921 delegates from Sinn Fein and the British government signed the Anglo Irish Treaty. There was much relief on both sides that an agreement had been reached. But what exactly had gone on behind the scenes in the negotiations and did everybody react positively to the Treaty?

The Assignment will help you to understand this important issue.

Assignment