Ireland From the Potato Famine to Independence. © Marie-Christine Röhsner Early Irish History Iron Age: Celts/Gaels Iron Age: Celts/Gaels 432 St. Patrick

IrelandIreland

From the Potato Famine to From the Potato Famine to IndependenceIndependence

© Marie-Christine Röhsner© Marie-Christine Röhsner

Early Irish HistoryEarly Irish History Iron Age: Celts/GaelsIron Age: Celts/Gaels 432 St. Patrick arrives 432 St. Patrick arrives 1171 King Henry II of England1171 King Henry II of England 13th century: English Law is introduced13th century: English Law is introduced 1641: Irish Rebellion 1641: Irish Rebellion Catholics are barred from voting or Catholics are barred from voting or

attending to the Parliamentattending to the Parliament


Political SituationPolitical Situation

Since 1801: Act of Union Since 1801: Act of Union English ruleEnglish rule Most of the land owned by EnglishMost of the land owned by English 2/3 of the population depending on 2/3 of the population depending on

agricultureagriculture 80% Catholics80% Catholics 70% of the Irish representatives 70% of the Irish representatives

Landowners or their sonsLandowners or their sons


The Situation of the FarmersThe Situation of the Farmers

English landlordsEnglish landlords High taxesHigh taxes Small farms (Subdivision)Small farms (Subdivision) PotatoPotato Depending on one single cropDepending on one single crop Previous FailuresPrevious Failures


The Great Irish FamineThe Great Irish Famine

1845-18521845-1852 Potato blightPotato blight Great crop failures Great crop failures Population reduced by 20-25% Population reduced by 20-25%


The Potato BilghtThe Potato Bilght

Phytophthora infestansPhytophthora infestans

Spores carried by wind & rainSpores carried by wind & rain

Potatoes rot in the groundPotatoes rot in the ground

Affected the whole island Affected the whole island


The Hanging GaleThe Hanging Gale

The potato bight arrivesThe potato bight arrives


The FamineThe Famine

September 1845: Potato blight arrivedSeptember 1845: Potato blight arrived Peer repeals Corn LawsPeer repeals Corn Laws 1846: Crop again destroyed1846: Crop again destroyed

– First deathsFirst deaths 1847: Worst year1847: Worst year

– 250 000 Emigrants250 000 Emigrants– DiseasesDiseases

Low yieldLow yield


The FamineThe Famine

1848: Crop failures1848: Crop failures RevolutionRevolution 1848/49:hard winter, Cholera1848/49:hard winter, Cholera 1849: Crop failures1849: Crop failures 1850: Relief1850: Relief Emigration continuesEmigration continues


PopulationPopulation

1800: ~ 4,5 million1800: ~ 4,5 million 1841: ~ 8,2 million1841: ~ 8,2 million 1851: ~ 6,5 million1851: ~ 6,5 million 1911: ~ 4,4 million1911: ~ 4,4 million ~ 1 million deaths~ 1 million deaths Emigration Emigration

– Up to 250 000 p.a.Up to 250 000 p.a.


Food ExportsFood Exports

Food exports to Food exports to EnglandEngland

1782-1783 Ports 1782-1783 Ports closedclosed

Food prices lowFood prices low Most of the famine: Most of the famine:

Food exportsFood exports Food imports from Food imports from

America America


After the FamineAfter the Famine

1856: James Stephens 1856: James Stephens returnsreturns

1858: Irish Republican 1858: Irish Republican BrotherhoodBrotherhood

1859: Fenian 1859: Fenian BrotherhoodBrotherhood

1867: Uprising1867: Uprising


The Land WarThe Land War

High TaxesHigh Taxes Many evictionsMany evictions Political movement – Michael Davitt Political movement – Michael Davitt Home Rule Party – Isaac ButtHome Rule Party – Isaac Butt BoycottBoycott ViolenceViolence


Political SituationPolitical Situation

Militant minority Militant minority full Independence full Independence Constitutional Nationalists Constitutional Nationalists

governmentgovernment Irish Unionists Irish Unionists Act of Union Act of Union Republicans Republicans Independence Independence Nationalists Nationalists Irish State Irish State


1886-19051886-1905

GladstoneGladstone 1886: First Home Rule Bill1886: First Home Rule Bill 1890: Parnell has to retire 1890: Parnell has to retire IPP splitsIPP splits 1893: Second Home Rule Bill1893: Second Home Rule Bill 1900: Reunion of the IPP 1900: Reunion of the IPP 1900: IRB regroups1900: IRB regroups 1905: Sinn Féin1905: Sinn Féin


1909: General Election1909: General Election 1912: Third Home rule Bill1912: Third Home rule Bill UVF and IVF are foundedUVF and IVF are founded County Option SchemeCounty Option Scheme 1914: War with Germany1914: War with Germany Home Rule Bill delayed Home Rule Bill delayed Irish join the war Irish join the war

1909 - World War I1909 - World War I


BackgroundBackground

August 1915: Military councilAugust 1915: Military council Provisional GovernmentProvisional Government ““England’s difficulty is Ireland’s England’s difficulty is Ireland’s

opportunity”opportunity” Clan na GaelClan na Gael German help German help Irish Citizen Army Irish Citizen Army


The Easter RisingThe Easter Rising

Easter Week (24.-30.4.) 1916Easter Week (24.-30.4.) 1916 Militant Irish republicansMilitant Irish republicans IndependenceIndependence Most important uprising since 1798Most important uprising since 1798 Concentrated on DublinConcentrated on Dublin Suppressed by the BritishSuppressed by the British


The Easter Rising The Easter Rising

Arranged for Easter SundayArranged for Easter Sunday German troops capturedGerman troops captured Irish Volunteer ForceIrish Volunteer Force Monday: Occupation of strategic Monday: Occupation of strategic

pointspoints English week (400 vs. 1000)English week (400 vs. 1000) Street fightsStreet fights Friday: English reinforcement Friday: English reinforcement Sunday: SurrenderSunday: Surrender


After the RisingAfter the Rising

Huge parts of Dublin are destroyedHuge parts of Dublin are destroyed 3 – 16. May: Executions of the 3 – 16. May: Executions of the

leadersleaders Sinn Féin is blamed for the RisingSinn Féin is blamed for the Rising 1917: New leader - Eamon de Valera1917: New leader - Eamon de Valera 1918: Sinn Féin wins election1918: Sinn Féin wins election 1919: First Dáil 1919: First Dáil


The Anglo-Irish WarThe Anglo-Irish War

21st January 1919 – 11th 21st January 1919 – 11th July 1921July 1921

Irish Republican ArmyIrish Republican Army First small surprise attacksFirst small surprise attacks Guerilla warGuerilla war ““Bloody Sunday”Bloody Sunday”


Michael CollinsMichael Collins

The British Answer


The Anglo-Irish WarThe Anglo-Irish War

21st January 1919 – 11th 21st January 1919 – 11th July 1921July 1921

Irish Republican ArmyIrish Republican Army First small surprise attacksFirst small surprise attacks Guerilla warGuerilla war ““Bloody Sunday”Bloody Sunday” 1921: Negotiations1921: Negotiations Treaty Treaty Fights between Fights between

IrishIrish


The TreatyThe Treaty

Negotiated by Negotiated by Michel CollinsMichel Collins

Irish Free StateIrish Free State Part of the EmpirePart of the Empire Members of Members of

Parliament have to Parliament have to swear an oath to swear an oath to the English Kingthe English King

Loss of Northern Loss of Northern IrelandIreland


ReactionsReactions

Great discussionsGreat discussions Ratified in 1922Ratified in 1922 Not very popularNot very popular ““the freedom to achieve freedom”the freedom to achieve freedom” Irish Civil War (1922-23)Irish Civil War (1922-23)


The wind that shakes the barleyThe wind that shakes the barley

In the churchIn the church

Documents

Ireland From the Potato Famine to Independence. © Marie-Christine Röhsner Early Irish History Iron Age: Celts/Gaels Iron Age: Celts/Gaels 432 St. Patrick