1. Background - origins of unionism, the Parliament Act 1911

Feeling tremendous pressure to grant Ireland Home Rule, Britain began to talk about making efforts to "pacify" Ireland, implying that it would indeed grant their wish. Talks of Home Rule were then delayed. The Irish saw the delay as a further political tactic of a British parliament who had no intention of granting them autonomy

2. 1912 Home Rule Bill, Ulster Solemn League

Ireland was to have a Home Rule parliament with very limited powers.

To preserve link with Britain, Ireland would continue to elect 40 mps to the imperial parliament at Westminster. Ireland was still under the british monarch and part of the empire. British army and Navy would remain in Ireland.

3. Unionists opposition

Unionists were loyal to the british monarch and were content to remain fullywithin the uk under a single parliament. Noth-east Ulster had prospered under the act of union 1800. Unionists feared that a home rule parliament in Dublin would destroy this. Their slogan “home rule is rome rule” summed up their fears of being dominated by a catholic church-controlled parliament in Dublin.

4. The solemn league and covenant

On 28^th September , 1912 they created what was called the `Solemn League and Covenant' which bound their followers to use any means necessary to resist Home Rule. They gathered over a half a million signatures, some of the Unionists even signing in their own blood. In the covenent they refused tobelieve that the bill was not being passed by a democratic majority. Instead they regarded it as an illegal conspiracy against their protestant way of life.

5. World War I - home rule postponed

When the war broke out, the british government decided to pass the home rule bill but to suspend it’s coming into effect until the end of the hostilities. This partly pleased both unionists and nationalists. The passing of the billin 1914 wasa victory of sorts. They expected war to be over soon, and after 50 years of struggle, HR finaly came into operation. For Carson and Craig, the war was an opportunity to show their loyalty to the king. Volunteers even joining british army, and so strengthening their ties.

6. Easter Rising - Rise of Sinn Fein

April 24 1916, hostilities come to a boiling point. Irish volunteers and members of citizen army. Onlookers did not suspect anything unusual would happen,as marches etc were the norm in Dublin. A number of buildings were strategicly taken, including the gpo on o’connel street. At noon the tri-colour was raised, and Patrick pearse read the proclaimation of the irish republic.

British soon rushed in reinforcements from athlone, the curragh camp and Britain. General Sir John Maxwell was sent to take control with full powers to pull down the rebellion. Gradually british forces encircled the city centrem and moved on the rebel positions.

Conclusion

After what seemed like an age of turmoil, the above caused the the government of Ireland act to be passed through British Parliament in 1920. It’s most important provision being partion, a thing which the uniosts welcomed, but the marooned nationalists hated.