During World War I, many Irish people had joined the British army to fight against
Germany, but others had gone to join the Irish volunteers. This group was the military
wing of the political party Sinn Fein, which was established in 1904 ("Ireland" World
Book 77). Most catholics were in favor of complete independence from Britain by the
early 1900's. The British parliament passed a home rule bill over Ulster opposition in
1914, but the outbreak of World War I (1914-1918) prevented the bill from going into
effect ("Ireland" World Book 529, 530).
On Easter morning, April 24th, 1916, Padraig Pearse led an uprising in Dublin. The
revolt became known as the Easter Rising. Pearse's view was that Irishmen should not
be helping England fight a war that had nothing to do with Ireland, they instead should
be fighting against England to gain independence. About 1,300 rebels were killed during
England's military response to this revolt ("Kelley" 21, 32). Ireland was declared an
independent country in 1919 when 73 Irish members of the British parliament met in
Dublin. Following this meeting guerrilla warfare came back to shape between the Irish
Rebels and the British forces. So in 1920 the British parliament passed an act that
separated Ireland into two different countries and gave each some powers of self
government. This act was known as the Act of Government. Ulster protestants accepted
this act and the state of Northern Ireland was formed from six counties in Ulster.
Catholics from Southern Ireland rejected this act and demanded complete independence
and a United Ireland ("Ireland" World Book 530).
In 1921 a treaty between leaders from Southern Ireland and England created the Irish
Free State.