THE RISE AND IMPACT OF NATIONALISM AND UNIONISM IN IRELAND, 1911–1923
5. Britain would have the use of three ports (the ‘Treaty ports’) – Berehaven, Cobh and Lough Swilly.
6. A Boundary Commission would be established to decide on the border between the north and south of Ireland.
The Treaty debates There was widespread debate in Ireland over the terms of the Treaty. The Dáil debated the Treaty from December 1921 to January 1922.
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE TREATY
PRO-TREATY ●● The IRA was not able to carry on a war any longer. ●● The Treaty was a stepping stone to full independence. Collins said: ‘It gives us freedom, not the ultimate freedom that all nations desire and develop to, but the freedom to achieve it.’
●● The Treaty gave Ireland much more independence than Home Rule.
●● In favour: Collins and Griffith
The debate sometimes became very emotional. It concluded on 7 January 1922, when the Treaty was accepted by 64 votes to 57. De Valera resigned as President of the Executive Council. He and his supporters left the Dáil. The Pro-Treaty side now took over the government, with Arthur Griffith replacing de Valera as president.
For and Against the Treaty LSource 1 A print attributed to Countess Markievicz
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
LSource 2 A Pro-Treaty poster
1. Who are Churchill’s puppets, according to Source 1?
2. What is the main point being made by the print?
3. What evidence suggests that this is an anti-Treaty print?
4. What terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty could be used in support of the main point of this print?
5. What terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty could be used against the main point of this print?
6. In Source 2, select what you consider are the four main points made in support of the Treaty.
7. Which source is more effective in getting its point across?
8. Why would historians consider both sources as propaganda? Explain your answers by referring to evidence in the sources.
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ANTI-TREATY ●● The Treaty did not give Ireland the republic they had fought for.
●● Better terms could have been negotiated. ●● The oath of allegiance recognised the king as head of state.
