Historiography
Rise of Sinn Fein and Decline of IPP
Failures of the British Government- Reaction to Easter Rising
(Contemp. Quote) : British Government describes Easter Rising as a ‘Sinn Fein’ rebellion
Many historians (REES and O’HALPIN) argue that the ‘sea change’ in Nationalist opinion
towards the Easter rebels was due to the actions of the British government in the wake of
the Rising.
However, LEE challenges this view by arguing that there was considerable initial sympathy
for the rebels
REES- “The image of blood seeping beneath a closed door exerted a powerful influence on
Dublin citizens”
(Contemp. Quote) : DILLON- famous intervention in the House of Commons- the insurgents
had “fought a clean fight, a brave fight; however misguided and it would have been a
damned good thing for you if your soldiers were able to put up as good a fight as did these
men in Dublin”
(Contemp. Quote)-BONAPARTE WYSE- “The sympathies of the ordinary Irish are with
S.F…and their only criticism of the Rising is that it was foolish”
MCGARRY- “The execution of the rebel leaders created bitterness among nationalists,
many of whom had been unsympathetic to the actions of the rebels”
(Contemp. Quote):-O’DWYER (Bishop of Limerick) - “I regard your actions with horror and I
believe this has outraged the conscience of the country”
Failure to implement Home Rule
REES- “In the aftermath of the Rising, the slogan of ‘self-determination’ had replaced
Home Rule”
Maxwell’s Policy of Coercion
REES- “Maxwell was a second-rate soldier, whose political judgement and lack of
experience in Ireland rendered him manifestly unsuitable for what was a delicate task”
SMITH- “British repression worked to bolster the standing of S.F just months before Ireland
went to the polls in 1919”
LYONS- “By the sporadic exercise of ill-directed force, by interference in public assemblies,
arrests, trials and imprisonments, the Castle made heroes out of nobodies.”
Breakdown of Lloyd George negotiations
REES- The Lloyd George negotiations “exposed tensions within the ranks of constitutional
nationalism”
REES-“In advocating 6-county exclusion, Redmond had taken a huge political gamble”
JACKSON- “The failure of the Lloyd George talks was a defining moment for the party
which had been marginalised by the war
LAFFAN- “Lloyd George was keen to exploit the weaknesses of the IPP”
Rise of Sinn Fein and Decline of IPP
Failures of the British Government- Reaction to Easter Rising
(Contemp. Quote) : British Government describes Easter Rising as a ‘Sinn Fein’ rebellion
Many historians (REES and O’HALPIN) argue that the ‘sea change’ in Nationalist opinion
towards the Easter rebels was due to the actions of the British government in the wake of
the Rising.
However, LEE challenges this view by arguing that there was considerable initial sympathy
for the rebels
REES- “The image of blood seeping beneath a closed door exerted a powerful influence on
Dublin citizens”
(Contemp. Quote) : DILLON- famous intervention in the House of Commons- the insurgents
had “fought a clean fight, a brave fight; however misguided and it would have been a
damned good thing for you if your soldiers were able to put up as good a fight as did these
men in Dublin”
(Contemp. Quote)-BONAPARTE WYSE- “The sympathies of the ordinary Irish are with
S.F…and their only criticism of the Rising is that it was foolish”
MCGARRY- “The execution of the rebel leaders created bitterness among nationalists,
many of whom had been unsympathetic to the actions of the rebels”
(Contemp. Quote):-O’DWYER (Bishop of Limerick) - “I regard your actions with horror and I
believe this has outraged the conscience of the country”
Failure to implement Home Rule
REES- “In the aftermath of the Rising, the slogan of ‘self-determination’ had replaced
Home Rule”
Maxwell’s Policy of Coercion
REES- “Maxwell was a second-rate soldier, whose political judgement and lack of
experience in Ireland rendered him manifestly unsuitable for what was a delicate task”
SMITH- “British repression worked to bolster the standing of S.F just months before Ireland
went to the polls in 1919”
LYONS- “By the sporadic exercise of ill-directed force, by interference in public assemblies,
arrests, trials and imprisonments, the Castle made heroes out of nobodies.”
Breakdown of Lloyd George negotiations
REES- The Lloyd George negotiations “exposed tensions within the ranks of constitutional
nationalism”
REES-“In advocating 6-county exclusion, Redmond had taken a huge political gamble”
JACKSON- “The failure of the Lloyd George talks was a defining moment for the party
which had been marginalised by the war
LAFFAN- “Lloyd George was keen to exploit the weaknesses of the IPP”
