Irish History: The 1920 Government of Ireland Act: What were the
Different Reactions to the Government of Ireland Act? Essay Plan
1. Aims
2. Terms
3. Negotiating the 1920 Government of Ireland Act
4. Reactions
Aims
● The primary aim of the 1920 Government of Ireland Act (GOIA) was to
end the Anglo-Irish War. In this respect, the British failed, as the war
continued until a truce was called on 11th July 1921.
● The second aim of the GOIA was to introduce the partition of Ireland,
with two Home Rule governments (one in Belfast, one in Dublin). Whilst
a Home Rule government was easily established in Belfast, Sinn Fein
boycotted attempts to establish a similar structure in Dublin and formed
a Second Dail instead. This aim shows how “out of touch” (Rees) the
British were with Irish desires, as the Irish wanted to create an Irish
Republic, not a Home Rule system.
● The British hoped that the GOIA would resolve the Ulster Question by
creating a devolved power in Belfast to handle Northern Irish affairs.
Ulster had become a difficult and distracting issue at Westminster.
● The British hoped that the GOIA would be seen as a generous and fair
offer by the international community, thus allowing Britain to continue
some form of conflict with Sinn Fein if necessary without risking
international relations.
Terms
● Ireland would be divided in two. A Home Rule government in Dublin
would preside over the 26-county area and a similar government in
, Belfast would preside over the new “Northern Ireland” (made up of the
six counties of Antrim, Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry, and Down).
● Representatives would be elected to these new parliaments on the
basis of proportional representation.
● The Council of Ireland was created so that Belfast and Dublin could
work together on common issues, with the hopes of eventual
reunification.
Negotiating the 1920 Government of Ireland Act
● A cabinet committee was established in September 1919 to consider
the GOIA and an end to the Anglo-Irish War. This wait was too long, as
the war had started eight months beforehand (21st January 1919). This
wait not only dragged on the war, but highlights the lack of focus on
resolving the Irish Question. This contributed to the ultimate failure of
the 1920 GOIA.
● This cabinet committee was chaired by Walter Long, former leader of
the Ulster Unionist Party. This led to a series of discussions that were
heavily focused on Ulster, leading to a decision which was ultimately
favourable to the Ulster Unionists. This “Ulster-centricity” (Fanning)
increased Craig’s influence in the proceedings. This was also helped by
the fact that Sinn Fein was still abstaining from Westminster and didn’t
contribute to the conversation.
● Long’s committee wanted a nine-county Northern Ireland, believing that
this would make reunification more likely. However, Craig (supported by
Conservative MPs like Balfour) wanted permanent partition and a
six-county Northern Ireland state. Lloyd George favoured Long’s
approach, and announced on 22nd December 1920 that a nine-county
state would be established. However, Craig’s influential position within
Lloyd George’s coalition government allowed him to convince Lloyd
George to create a six-county state by February 1921.
Different Reactions to the Government of Ireland Act? Essay Plan
1. Aims
2. Terms
3. Negotiating the 1920 Government of Ireland Act
4. Reactions
Aims
● The primary aim of the 1920 Government of Ireland Act (GOIA) was to
end the Anglo-Irish War. In this respect, the British failed, as the war
continued until a truce was called on 11th July 1921.
● The second aim of the GOIA was to introduce the partition of Ireland,
with two Home Rule governments (one in Belfast, one in Dublin). Whilst
a Home Rule government was easily established in Belfast, Sinn Fein
boycotted attempts to establish a similar structure in Dublin and formed
a Second Dail instead. This aim shows how “out of touch” (Rees) the
British were with Irish desires, as the Irish wanted to create an Irish
Republic, not a Home Rule system.
● The British hoped that the GOIA would resolve the Ulster Question by
creating a devolved power in Belfast to handle Northern Irish affairs.
Ulster had become a difficult and distracting issue at Westminster.
● The British hoped that the GOIA would be seen as a generous and fair
offer by the international community, thus allowing Britain to continue
some form of conflict with Sinn Fein if necessary without risking
international relations.
Terms
● Ireland would be divided in two. A Home Rule government in Dublin
would preside over the 26-county area and a similar government in
, Belfast would preside over the new “Northern Ireland” (made up of the
six counties of Antrim, Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry, and Down).
● Representatives would be elected to these new parliaments on the
basis of proportional representation.
● The Council of Ireland was created so that Belfast and Dublin could
work together on common issues, with the hopes of eventual
reunification.
Negotiating the 1920 Government of Ireland Act
● A cabinet committee was established in September 1919 to consider
the GOIA and an end to the Anglo-Irish War. This wait was too long, as
the war had started eight months beforehand (21st January 1919). This
wait not only dragged on the war, but highlights the lack of focus on
resolving the Irish Question. This contributed to the ultimate failure of
the 1920 GOIA.
● This cabinet committee was chaired by Walter Long, former leader of
the Ulster Unionist Party. This led to a series of discussions that were
heavily focused on Ulster, leading to a decision which was ultimately
favourable to the Ulster Unionists. This “Ulster-centricity” (Fanning)
increased Craig’s influence in the proceedings. This was also helped by
the fact that Sinn Fein was still abstaining from Westminster and didn’t
contribute to the conversation.
● Long’s committee wanted a nine-county Northern Ireland, believing that
this would make reunification more likely. However, Craig (supported by
Conservative MPs like Balfour) wanted permanent partition and a
six-county Northern Ireland state. Lloyd George favoured Long’s
approach, and announced on 22nd December 1920 that a nine-county
state would be established. However, Craig’s influential position within
Lloyd George’s coalition government allowed him to convince Lloyd
George to create a six-county state by February 1921.
