4 British Government pressure 1 Disagreements over the Anglo-Irish Treaty
After the Dáil debates, the divisions between the pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty sides grew wider. Very often, families and friends disagreed. ● The British Army began to withdraw from barracks around the country. As it did so, different groups of pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty IRA members took over the barracks.
● The pro-Treaty IRA became known as the Free State Army or the Regulars, while the anti-Treaty IRA members were called Republicans or Irregulars.
2 Only a republic
The anti-Treaty IRA refused to accept anything other than a republic (a country without a monarch – king or queen). ● They refused to accept the authority of Dáil Éireann.
3 Taking over the Four Courts
The slide toward civil war began when a group of Republicans took over the Four Courts in the centre of Dublin in April 1922. This was a direct challenge to the government.
4 British Government pressure
The government was also under pressure from the British Government who feared that war would break out again. 5 General election results
A general election in June 1922 gave a huge majority in favour of the Treaty. This put the government in a stronger position. When the Republicans in the Four Courts captured a Free State general, Griffith and Collins decided to attack them.
262
Sinn Féin (pro-Treaty) Sinn Féin (anti-Treaty)
General election results June 1922
58 36
The rest (including the Labour Party) – pro-Treaty 34 Total – pro-Treaty Total – anti-Treaty