New
New
Year 9

Decolonisation in Ireland in the 20th century

I can describe how violent conflict in Ireland led to its partition in 1921, with the Irish Free State becoming an independent republic in 1949.

New
New
Year 9

Decolonisation in Ireland in the 20th century

I can describe how violent conflict in Ireland led to its partition in 1921, with the Irish Free State becoming an independent republic in 1949.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Prior to WW1, the Home Rule movement gathered momentum in Ireland and looked likely to become reality.
  2. With the onset of war, these plans were delayed and Irish nationalists staged a rebellion against British rule in 1916.
  3. Britain violently crushed the rebellion and war broke out between the IRA and the British Blacks and Tans.
  4. In 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty partitioned Ireland into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.
  5. In 1949, the Irish Free State became the Republic of Ireland, completely separate from the UK.

Common misconception

All Irish nationalists shared the same views and had the same aims.

Some Irish nationalists wanted Home Rule for Ireland whereas other nationalists (known as republicans) wanted complete independence from Britain. After 1921, republicans split between those who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty and those who did not.

Keywords

  • Unionist - before the partition of Ireland, a unionist was someone who wanted all of Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, rather than becoming an independent country

  • Nationalist - someone who strongly believes in and supports their own country, placing its interests above those of other nations

  • Home Rule - the policy of Ireland having its own parliament and self-government while still remaining part of the United Kingdom

  • Republican - someone who wanted to establish an independent Irish republic, free from British rule

  • Partition - to divide into parts

Direct students to draw an annotated timeline of the key events from 1914 to 1949 to help them consolidate their understanding.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is not a part of the United Kingdom today?
England
Northern Ireland
Correct answer: Republic of Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Q2.
Which of the following gives the best definition of colonisation?
Forming an alliance with another country
Industrialising and developing new technologies with another country
Organising and hosting international events in another country
Correct answer: Settling in and establishing control over another country
Trading goods and services between countries
Q3.
At its biggest extent, the British covered nearly one quarter of the world's land surface.
Correct Answer: Empire
Q4.
The British Empire came to an end after the Second World War. In which century was this war?
18th century
19th century
Correct answer: 20th century
21st century
Q5.
Which of the following modern-day countries broke free of colonisation by the British Empire?
France
Correct answer: India
Correct answer: Kenya
Correct answer: Nigeria
Correct answer: United States of America
Q6.
The process of gaining independence from is known as decolonisation.
Correct Answer: colonisation, empire, colony, oppression, exploitation

6 Questions

Q1.
The Acts of Union made Ireland a part of the United Kingdom rather than a colony of the Empire.
Correct Answer: British
Q2.
Which of the following was the area of Ireland most colonised by Protestants from Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries?
Connacht
Leinster
Munster
Correct answer: Ulster
Q3.
Which of the following were features of Home Rule?
the parliament in London would decide all Irish policy
Correct answer: a parliament in Dublin to manage Irish domestic affairs
Correct answer: Ireland to remain a part of the UK
Ireland to become independent of the UK
Q4.
Parliament voted to grant Home Rule to Ireland in 1912; what event delayed Home Rule being brought in?
The sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912
The start of the First Balkan War in 1913
Correct answer: The start of the First World War in 1914
The Treaty of London in 1915
Q5.
Which of the following are correct details about the Easter Rising?
Correct answer: announced the establishment of an independent Irish Republic
established Home Rule for Ireland
Correct answer: involved 16 000 men and women
Correct answer: took over the General Post Office
took place in Belfast
Q6.
Which political party gained a landslide victory in Ireland in the December 1918 General Election?
Conservatives (leader: Bonar Law)
Labour (leader: Asquith)
Irish Parliamentary (leader: Dillon)
Correct answer: Sinn Féin (leader: de Valera)

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