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British Reaction - Britain's Irish policy 1910-18 - Coggle Diagram
British Reaction - Britain's Irish policy 1910-18
Constitutional crisis
Over House of Lords veto because of the 1909 budget, this led to the 1911 Parliament Act where the House of Lords could only delay legislation for 2 years
Due to the 1910 election IPP holding balance of power and Home Rule was passed in 1912
Home Rule was a political necessity for Asquith
1912 Home Rule
Unionists opposed due to fear surrounding economic and religious freedoms leading to the Ulster Covenant signed by 470,000 in resistance
1914 Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) made to defend Union with Britain, seen by Larne gun running operation
Attempted to find middle ground by exclusion of Ulster from Home Rule for 6 years in 1914
Asquith had to manage a delicate balance between addressing concerns of the unionists and maintaining rule of law
Curragh mutiny
March 1914 British officers refused to march against the UVF showing their opposition to weakening government authroity
Many Britons were willing to support Ulster resistance to the point of civil war
Asquith used pragmatism and desire to avoid conflict with 'wait and see strategy'
Opted for negotiation seen with Curragh agreement meant officers didn't have to go against the UVF
Some see Asquith's approach as necessary to avoid longer conflict but some saw it undermining government authority
Buckingham Palace Conference July 1914 -Attempted to find agreement between Unionists and Nationalists but failed
Handling of the Easter Rising
Asquith's decision to execute 15 key leaders of the rebellion was seen as harsh and counterproductive
His response alienated groups that may not have initially supported the rising
Government also carried out widespread arrests, house searches and crackdown on political activity (also seen as harsh and created atmosphere of fear and repression)
Asquith delayed visit to Dublin 3 weeks later which meant the military could continue with oppressive measures and showed that the British government were out of touch with reality
Overall meant a shift in public opinion to favour the rebels and played a crucial role in the rise of Sinn Fein, highlighted public sentiment
Failure of the Irish Convention 1917
Approved by Lloyd George to create a Home Rule Proposal
Aimed for unit however Sinn Fein refused to participate
Convention ended in a stalemate in April 1918
The Conscription Crisis 1918
Many saw it as a violation of their rights
Conscription led to widespread outrage and resistance
1918 Lloyd George attempted to introduce conscription in Ireland
People saw it as an act of coercion as they would fight in a war which wasn't their conflict
Impact evident in 1918 elections when Sinn Fein emerged as political dominant force
Led to surge in nationalist sentiment galvanising support for Sinn Fein further