Ever since the first English invasion of Ireland in the middle ages Ireland and
Britain have had constant tensions and conflicts. In the 1918 election, the first
since WW1, the radical republican Sinn Fein party won a huge majority in
parliament showing just radicalised Irish society had become. The tactics and
policies of the IRA was an important obstacle to peace, however the policies of
the British government, the formation of the First Dail, and the stance of the
ulster unionists were also important. Overall however the actions of the British
government was the most important factor
The tactics and policies of the IRA were an important obstacle to peace in 1918-
1921. An example of this was IRA ambushes on British troops and Irish police such
as the Soloheadbeg ambush which was the first IRA ambush of the war of
independence. This meant that IRA members and British troops and allies were
openly fighting each other in a guerrilla war, posing a huge obstacle to peace. The
12 assassins known as the squad under Michael Collins assassinated many British
spies and intelligence agents in Dublin like during bloody Sunday. This caused the
British in Ireland to hate and fear the squad which drove them to seek revenge.
However the IRA only had 3,000 active members at their height with 15,000
members having fought in the conflict. This meant that they did not have a lot of
men meaning they were not a large threat to the British who has millions of WW1
veterans they could call up. Overall the tactics and policies of the IRA were an
important obstacle to peace.
The policies and actions of the British government were another important
obstacle to peace. An example of this is reprisals by British troops such as bloody
Sunday where British armoured cars interrupted a GAA match and killed many
spectators in reprisal for the assassination of many of their G men. This caused
tension as Irish civilians were being killed by the British causing resentment and
anger, giving the IRA more support. British organisations such as the black and
tans committed many atrocities such as the burning of Cork, where the 3rd largest
city in Ireland was destroyed causing millions of pounds in damages and many to
become homeless. This caused a huge outrage worldwide with prominent British
politician, Lord Halifax, calling out the black and tans for their actions. However
many people in Dublin praised the British troops stationed there, saying that they
acted like gentlemen. This shows that not all British troops were committing
atrocities and that most of them did not act with hostility. Overall the actions of
the British was the most important factor.
Britain have had constant tensions and conflicts. In the 1918 election, the first
since WW1, the radical republican Sinn Fein party won a huge majority in
parliament showing just radicalised Irish society had become. The tactics and
policies of the IRA was an important obstacle to peace, however the policies of
the British government, the formation of the First Dail, and the stance of the
ulster unionists were also important. Overall however the actions of the British
government was the most important factor
The tactics and policies of the IRA were an important obstacle to peace in 1918-
1921. An example of this was IRA ambushes on British troops and Irish police such
as the Soloheadbeg ambush which was the first IRA ambush of the war of
independence. This meant that IRA members and British troops and allies were
openly fighting each other in a guerrilla war, posing a huge obstacle to peace. The
12 assassins known as the squad under Michael Collins assassinated many British
spies and intelligence agents in Dublin like during bloody Sunday. This caused the
British in Ireland to hate and fear the squad which drove them to seek revenge.
However the IRA only had 3,000 active members at their height with 15,000
members having fought in the conflict. This meant that they did not have a lot of
men meaning they were not a large threat to the British who has millions of WW1
veterans they could call up. Overall the tactics and policies of the IRA were an
important obstacle to peace.
The policies and actions of the British government were another important
obstacle to peace. An example of this is reprisals by British troops such as bloody
Sunday where British armoured cars interrupted a GAA match and killed many
spectators in reprisal for the assassination of many of their G men. This caused
tension as Irish civilians were being killed by the British causing resentment and
anger, giving the IRA more support. British organisations such as the black and
tans committed many atrocities such as the burning of Cork, where the 3rd largest
city in Ireland was destroyed causing millions of pounds in damages and many to
become homeless. This caused a huge outrage worldwide with prominent British
politician, Lord Halifax, calling out the black and tans for their actions. However
many people in Dublin praised the British troops stationed there, saying that they
acted like gentlemen. This shows that not all British troops were committing
atrocities and that most of them did not act with hostility. Overall the actions of
the British was the most important factor.
