liberation of ireland Essay -- essays research papers

Liberation of Ireland The 1916 Easter Rising The Easter Rebellion, was an armed uprising of Irish nationalists against the rule of Great Britain in Ireland. The uprising occurred on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, and centred mainly in Dublin. The chief objectives were the attainment of political freedom and the establishment of an Irish republic. Centuries of discontent, marked by numerous rebellions, preceded the uprising. The new crisis began to develop in September 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, when the British government suspended the recently enacted Home Rule Bill, which guaranteed a measure of political autonomy to Ireland. Suspension of the bill stimulated the growth of the Citizen Army, an illegal force of Dublin citizens organised by the labour leader Jim Larkin (died 1948) and the socialist James Connolly (1870-1916); of the Irish Volunteers, a national defence body; and of the extremist Sinn FÃ ©in. The uprising was planned by leaders of these organisations, among whom were the British consular agent Sir Roger David Casement, the educator Padhraic Pearse (1879-1916), and the poet Thomas MacDonagh (1878-1916). Hostilities began about noon on April 24, when about 2000 men led by Pearse seized control of the Dublin post office and other strategic points within the city. Shortly after these initial successes, the leaders of the rebellion proclaimed the Independence of Ireland and announced the establishment of a provisional government of the Irish Republic. Additional positions were occupied by the rebels during the night, and by the morning of April 25 they controlled a considerable part of Dublin. The counteroffensive by British forces began on Tuesday with the arrival of reinforcements. Martial law was proclaimed throughout Ireland. Bitter street fighting developed in Dublin, during which the strengthened British forces steadily dislodged the Irish from their positions. By the morning of April 29, the post office building, site of the rebel headquarters, was under violent attack. Recognising the futility of further resistance, Pearse surrendered unconditionally in the afternoon of April 29 . The British immediately brought the leaders of the uprising to trial before a field court-martial. Fifteen of the group, including Pearse, Connolly, and MacDonagh, were sentenced to death and executed by firing squad. Four others, including ... ...m. In June, Irish voters ratified a treaty strengthening political and monetary integration within the European Community. Presidents DOUGLAS HYDE 1938-1945 (+1949) SEAN THOMAS O'KELLY 1945-1959 (+1966) Fianna FÃ ¡il EAMON DE VALERA 1959-1973 (+1975) Fianna FÃ ¡il ERSKINE HAMILTON CHILDERS 1973-1974 (+) Fianna FÃ ¡il CEARBHALL O'DALAIGH 1974-1976 (+1978) Fianna FÃ ¡il PATRICK J. HILLERY 1976-1990 Fianna FÃ ¡il MARY ROBINSON 1990-1997 Labour MARY MCALEESE 1997- Fianna FÃ ¡il Taoiseachs (Prime Ministers) EAMON DE VALERA 1932-1948 (+1975) Fianna FÃ ¡il JOHN A. COSTELLO 1948-1951 (+1976) Fine Gael EAMON DE VALERA 1951-1954 (+1975) Fianna FÃ ¡il JOHN A. COSTELLO 1954-1957 (+1976) Fine Gael EAMON DE VALERA 1957-1959 (+1975) Fianna FÃ ¡il SEAN F. LEMASS 1959-1966 (+1971) Fianna FÃ ¡il JACK M. LYNCH 1966-1973 FIanna FÃ ¡il LIAM GOSGRAVE 1973-1977 Fine Gael JACK M. LYNCH 1977-1979 Fianna FÃ ¡il CHARLES HAUGHEY 1979-1981 Fianna FÃ ¡il GARRET FITZGERALD 1981-1982 Fine Gael CHARLES HAUGHEY 1982 Fianna FÃ ¡il GARRET FITZGERALD 1982-1987 Fine Gael CHARLES HAUGHEY 1987-1992 Fianna FÃ ¡il ALBERT REYNOLDS 1992-1994 Fianna FÃ ¡il JOHN BRUTON 1994-1997 Fine Gael BERTIE AHERN 1997- Fianna FÃ ¡il