Decolonisation in Ireland in the 20th century
Lesson details
Learning outcome
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.
Key learning points
- Prior to WW1, the Home Rule movement gathered momentum in Ireland and looked likely to become reality.
- With the onset of war, these plans were delayed and Irish nationalists staged a rebellion against British rule in 1916.
- Britain violently crushed the rebellion and war broke out between the IRA and the British Blacks and Tans.
- In 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty partitioned Ireland into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.
- In 1949, the Irish Free State became the Republic of Ireland, completely separate from the UK.
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
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.
Teacher tip
Direct students to draw an annotated timeline of the key events from 1914 to 1949 to help them consolidate their understanding.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is not a part of the United Kingdom today?
Q2.Which of the following gives the best definition of colonisation?
Q3.At its biggest extent, the British covered nearly one quarter of the world's land surface.
Q4.The British Empire came to an end after the Second World War. In which century was this war?
Q5.Which of the following modern-day countries broke free of colonisation by the British Empire?
Q6.The process of gaining independence from is known as decolonisation.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Acts of Union made Ireland a part of the United Kingdom rather than a colony of the Empire.
Q2.Which of the following was the area of Ireland most colonised by Protestants from Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries?
Q3.Which of the following were features of Home Rule?
Q4.Parliament voted to grant Home Rule to Ireland in 1912; what event delayed Home Rule being brought in?
Q5.Which of the following are correct details about the Easter Rising?
Q6.Which political party gained a landslide victory in Ireland in the December 1918 General Election?
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Decolonisation in Ireland in the 20th century, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Decolonisation in Ireland in the 20th century, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Decolonisation: how similar was decolonisation throughout the British Empire? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.