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The Irish Free State, 1923 - 1932 (Cumann na nGaedhael (Civil war ended in…
The Irish Free State, 1923 - 1932
Cumann na nGaedhael
Civil war ended in 1923, Sinn Féin divided, those pro treaty formed Irish Free State
1923 pro-treaty side Cumann na nGaedhael, Party of the Gaels, WT Cosgrave fought in Rising, leading Dáil member
first president of Irish Free State, after 7 years of conflict first task of government was to establish law and order
IRA destroyed RIC, set up an Garda Síochana, unarmed police force, very important as IRA still armed, very popular
Kevin O'Higgins, Minister for Home Affairs established judiciary, and set up court system
O'Higgins had to sign death warrants, signed death warrant of best man at his wedding Rory O'Connor
Managing Economy and Political Change
relied on agriculture, farmers losses, help farmers, set up Agricultural Credit Corporation, ACC, cheap loans, felt government didn't help poor
improved lives of poor, in West, rural electrification, built HEP plant Ardnacrusha, brought electricty to west, small regional towns, Sligo, 1927 ESB
1927 Electoral Amendment Act, Fiann Fáil, de Valera, refused seats, no person allowed to stand for election, promised to take seat, de Valera said oath was an empty formula,
Cosgrave's government protected the democracy
Boundary Commission met 1924, 1925, MacNeill, JR Fisher was unionist, Richard Feetham, South Africa unbiased, biased towards unionists, left boundary
Foreign Affairs
most significant achievement, 26 counties dominion status, own government, britain had power to interfere
same status and Australia and Canada, Commonwealth of Nations, new way of refering to British empire countries
1920s, more independence wanted, New Zealand, Canada, Australia signed Treaty of Versailles members of Leafue of Nations
reps of commonwealth, met in London every 2 years, Imperial Conferences, press for independence, part of British Isles harder to leave
Kevin O'Higgins, Desmond Fitzgerald reps of Irish Free State, independent country push
Proving Independence
Britain resisted, 1923 full member of League of Nations, treaty became legal binding document, 1924 appointed ambassador to US, reps in other countries, angered Britain
1926 Imperial Conference, discussed idea of equal standing, 1926 groundwork for Statute of Westminster laid, 1930 passed law in 1931
no longer make laws for ireland, free to pass laws, granted freedom to rip up treaty 9 years later after signing
didn't improve Cumann na nGaedhael popularity, seen as party of the rich,De Valera had support, O'Higgins shot dead on way to mass 1927, stayed in government until 1932