THE RISE AND IMPACT OF NATIONALISM AND UNIONISM IN IRELAND, 1911–23
Background – What Was Nationalism and Unionism?
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Define nationalism and unionism
At the beginning of the 20th century, Ireland was ruled directly from London. Irish members of parliament (MPs) and lords sat in the House of Commons and House of Lords in Westminster, London. It was here that the laws for Ireland were passed. This is the way Ireland had been ruled since the Act of Union in 1800.
The two main political groups in Ireland in 1911 were the nationalists and the unionists.
What did each group want? Nationalists
… wanted changes in the way Ireland was ruled. They wanted some form of self- government with a parliament in Dublin.
Nationalists
The majority of people in Ireland were nationalists. There were a number of different nationalist groups.
Nationalists
Irish Parliamentary Party/ Home Rule Party
Very popular Main nationalist group
Parliament in Dublin to deal with internal Irish affairs
Parliament in London to deal with external affairs
Peaceful methods
Irish Republican Brotherhood/Fenians
Small, secret group Complete independence Republic Physical force/Rebellion Sinn Féin
Founded by Arthur Griffith
Small party Parliament in Dublin
Abstentionism from British parliament Passive resistance
Arthur Griffith, founder of Sinn Féin, a small nationalist party
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John Redmond, leader of the Home Rule Party, the main nationalist party
Key Words Unionism
Unionists
… wanted to keep the system as it was, with a parliament in Westminster making laws for Ireland.