Ireland would have Home Rule. At first, Redmond opposed such an idea, but he eventually accepted and they had to decide where to draw the line of partition. Carson wanted to include six counties while Redmond thought that only the four counties with unionist majorities should be included.
✣ By the way
World War I These arguments were put
The British Army officers located in the Curragh Army Barracks in Kildare told the British Prime Minister, Asquith, that they would rather resign than force Home Rule on Ulster. This was a major problem because Asquith knew he needed the support of the British Army to enforce Home Rule in Ulster. This event was known as the Curragh Mutiny.
to one side when
Germany invaded Belgium in August 1914 and World War I broke out. All sides agreed to postpone Home Rule until after the war. Both Carson and Redmond called on the Ulster and Irish Volunteers to fight against Germany for the freedom of small countries such as Belgium. The vast majority of the Irish Volunteers agreed with Redmond and they formed the National Volunteers. A much smaller group of about 10,000 Irish Volunteers led by Eoin MacNeill refused to join the British army.
Fig 15.9 John Redmond inspects the National Volunteers in 1915. RECALL
1. Explain the following words: (a) Veto
(b) MPs
2. Name the two main political parties in Westminster and their leaders in 1909. 3. What was the Solemn League and Covenant? 4. Why was the UVF established? 5. Why did the British government suggest the partition of Ireland? 6. Why did Redmond think that only four counties should form Northern Ireland? 7. What event caused the postponement of Home Rule? 8. Who formed the National Volunteers and why?
HISTORICAL EMPATHY
9. Write an account of a unionist who opposed Home Rule in 1912. Use the following headings as a guide: v Family background v Reasons for opposing Home Rule v Political parties and leaders v Methods of opposition