After the end of World War I, the British Prime Minister called a general election. For the first time since 1910, people were going to vote for a new government. Furthermore, women had a vote for the first time. Very few people in Ireland supported Home Rule anymore and so people voted in massive numbers for Sinn Féin. While the Unionist Party continued to have strong support in Ulster, the results showed a massive change in the nationalist parties. Sinn Féin won 73 seats in comparison to the IPP who gained a mere 7 seats. This made Sinn Féin the biggest political party in Ireland by far.
D. War of Independence Dáil Éireann
RECALL
1. Give two reasons why public opinion towards the 1916 rebels changed.
2. Name the founder of Sinn Féin. 3. Why did the popularity of Sinn Féin grow after 1916? Give four reasons.
In pairs, discuss and answer the following questions: 4. In your opinion, was the 1916 Rising a success? Give reasons for your answer.
5. Do you agree with the idea of blood sacrifice? Give reasons for your answer.
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Fig 15.26 The First Dáil met in January 1919. This picture from later that year includes Collins (second from left sitting down), Brugha (beside Collins), Griffith (to his left) and de Valera in the middle. Markievicz is not present in the photograph.