6. Unionists

Ireland 1909 – 1922Ireland 1909 – 1922

Lesson 6Lesson 6

UnionistsUnionists

Lesson 6Lesson 6 22

ContentsContents

1.1. Go over HomeworkGo over Homework2.2. UnionistsUnionists

Ulster ProvinceUlster Province Home Rule ThreatHome Rule Threat Organising Unionist OppositionOrganising Unionist Opposition Ulster Volunteer ForceUlster Volunteer Force Curragh MutinyCurragh Mutiny Partition ConsideredPartition Considered

3.3. Video Video (12 mins)(12 mins)

4.4. HomeworkHomework

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HomeworkHomework1.1. What were the three main What were the three main

“statements” of The Solemn “statements” of The Solemn League and Covenant?League and Covenant?1.1. Loyalty to British CrownLoyalty to British Crown

2.2. Refuse to accept Irish parliamentRefuse to accept Irish parliament

3.3. Wanted to stay part of United Wanted to stay part of United KingdomKingdom

2.2. Complete the phrase: “Ulster will Complete the phrase: “Ulster will fight and Ulster…fight and Ulster… ……will be right!”will be right!”

3.3. Document Study (C) – page 20.Document Study (C) – page 20.What three reasons are given for What three reasons are given for Home Rule being bad for Ireland Home Rule being bad for Ireland and especially Ulster?and especially Ulster?1.1. Subversive of our civil & religious Subversive of our civil & religious

freedomfreedom

2.2. Destructive of our citizenshipDestructive of our citizenship

3.3. Perilous to the unity of the Perilous to the unity of the EmpireEmpire

4.4. What was Carson’s aim if he What was Carson’s aim if he could not stop Home Rule for could not stop Home Rule for all of Ireland?all of Ireland?

Partition, excluding the 9 Partition, excluding the 9 counties of Ulster from Home counties of Ulster from Home RuleRule

5.5. What was the name of the What was the name of the Unionists private army set up Unionists private army set up in January 1913?in January 1913?

Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)

6.6. Where did the Unionists Where did the Unionists receive most of their guns receive most of their guns from in 1914?from in 1914?

GermanyGermany

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Homework Homework (continued)(continued)

7.7. Where, in Ireland, did they land Where, in Ireland, did they land these guns?these guns? Larne (and Bangor)Larne (and Bangor)

8.8. What did the British Govt do What did the British Govt do about it?about it? Nothing to stop itNothing to stop it

9.9. What was Asquith’s What was Asquith’s compromise solution to satisfy compromise solution to satisfy the Unionists?the Unionists? Partition of NE Ulster: Six Partition of NE Ulster: Six

counties only would be excluded counties only would be excluded from home Rule for six years.from home Rule for six years.

10.10. What was Redmond’s response What was Redmond’s response to this solution?to this solution? He accepted the ideaHe accepted the idea

11.11. What year did Carson take What year did Carson take over as leader of the Ulster over as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party?Unionist Party?

19101910

12.12. What was James Craig’s What was James Craig’s position in 1911, when he position in 1911, when he organised the first major organised the first major demonstration against Home demonstration against Home Rule?Rule?

Deputy Leader of the Ulster Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist PartyUnionist Party

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Ulster ProvinceUlster Province Population BreakdownPopulation Breakdown Religious DifferencesReligious Differences

ProtestantProtestant Felt more in common with Scottish Felt more in common with Scottish

Presbyterian neighbours than with Presbyterian neighbours than with Irish CatholicsIrish Catholics

What were the Economic What were the Economic Differences between Ulster and the Differences between Ulster and the rest of Ireland?rest of Ireland?

Ulster was Ireland’s most prosperous Ulster was Ireland’s most prosperous provinceprovince

Industrial Belfast felt more in Industrial Belfast felt more in common with British Industrial cities common with British Industrial cities than rural souththan rural south

Richer and more advanced farming Richer and more advanced farming methodsmethods

Centuries of Mistrust & PrejudiceCenturies of Mistrust & Prejudice Protestant workers feared the influx Protestant workers feared the influx

of Catholics seeking jobs would force of Catholics seeking jobs would force down wagesdown wages

Many Catholics saw Ulster as the Many Catholics saw Ulster as the hated symbol of British interference hated symbol of British interference in Irelandin Ireland

Ulster Province:60% Protestant40% Catholic

Other Provinces:5% Protestant95% CatholicAll of Ireland

10% Protestant90% Catholic

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Home Rule ThreatHome Rule Threat Industrialists and farmers feared southern Home Rule Industrialists and farmers feared southern Home Rule

parliament might threaten their economic wealth.parliament might threaten their economic wealth.

This postcard was This postcard was one of many one of many

produced by unionists produced by unionists to promote their to promote their

opposition to Home opposition to Home RuleRule

It shows Belfast City Hall, It shows Belfast City Hall, once a proud symbol of Ulster once a proud symbol of Ulster

unionism’s entrepreneurial unionism’s entrepreneurial spirit, in a state of utter spirit, in a state of utter dereliction as a result of dereliction as a result of

Home RuleHome Rule

Unionists Unionists saw saw

themselves themselves as a thrifty, as a thrifty, sober and sober and industrious industrious

peoplepeople

This card reflects This card reflects the low opinion they the low opinion they

had of southern had of southern Irish Catholics’ Irish Catholics’

ability to manage ability to manage political and political and

economic affairseconomic affairs

Belfast City Hall

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Protestants at Mercy of Protestants at Mercy of CatholicsCatholics Protestants feared that an Irish parliament would Protestants feared that an Irish parliament would

put them at the mercy of Catholics.put them at the mercy of Catholics. They feared Catholics would legislate to destroy They feared Catholics would legislate to destroy

the Protestant way of life.the Protestant way of life.““We will fight as men alone can fight who have the Bible We will fight as men alone can fight who have the Bible in one hand and the sword in the other…..and this will in one hand and the sword in the other…..and this will be our dying cry, echoed from one end of Ulster to the be our dying cry, echoed from one end of Ulster to the other: No Papacy, no Surrender “other: No Papacy, no Surrender “ – 1868 Protestant – 1868 Protestant ministerminister

““Home Rule means Rome Rule”Home Rule means Rome Rule” – Orange Order– Orange Order

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British Conservative Political British Conservative Political ViewView Conservatives encouraged Ulster to Conservatives encouraged Ulster to

reject Home Rule by any meansreject Home Rule by any means In 1886 Conservative Politician Lord In 1886 Conservative Politician Lord

Randolf Churchill believed the Orange Randolf Churchill believed the Orange Card would be one to playCard would be one to play

In 1886 he said to a Belfast Crowd: In 1886 he said to a Belfast Crowd: ““Ulster will fight and Ulster will be right”Ulster will fight and Ulster will be right”

Ulster Orange Order would need to Ulster Orange Order would need to organise opposition to Home Rule within organise opposition to Home Rule within Ulster on such a scale that parliament Ulster on such a scale that parliament would never pass a Home Rule billwould never pass a Home Rule bill

Many feared that Home Rule was the Many feared that Home Rule was the vital step to a completely independent vital step to a completely independent IrelandIreland Feared other members of British Empire Feared other members of British Empire

might then follow Ireland’s example and might then follow Ireland’s example and the Empire would disintegratethe Empire would disintegrate

Independent Ireland easily over-run by Independent Ireland easily over-run by foreign powers - could expose Britain on foreign powers - could expose Britain on its western flankits western flank

Lord Randolf Churchill

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Ulster Unionist PropagandaUlster Unionist Propaganda

Who do you think this is trying to

persuade?

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Organising Unionist OppositionOrganising Unionist Opposition DemonstrationsDemonstrations

Sept 1911, first demonstration at Sept 1911, first demonstration at CraigavonCraigavon

Organised by James Craig, deputy Organised by James Craig, deputy Leader of Ulster Unionist Party, at his Leader of Ulster Unionist Party, at his home (Craigavon)home (Craigavon)

April 1912, 100,000 Unionists April 1912, 100,000 Unionists attended a demonstration, attended a demonstration, addressed by Conservative addressed by Conservative Opposition leader Andrew Bonar-Opposition leader Andrew Bonar-LawLaw

Sept 12Sept 12thth 1912 Bonar-Law stated: 1912 Bonar-Law stated:““They would be justified in resisting by They would be justified in resisting by all means…. including force…..I can all means…. including force…..I can imagine no length of resistance to imagine no length of resistance to which Ulster can go in which I should which Ulster can go in which I should not be prepared to support them” not be prepared to support them”

Andrew Bonar-Law

With this statement, what could

Bonar-Law be accused of?


Ulster Solemn Ulster Solemn League & CovenantLeague & Covenant

28th Sept 1912, A 28th Sept 1912, A demonstration was led by demonstration was led by Sir Edward CarsonSir Edward Carson leader of the Unionists from leader of the Unionists from

19101910

This led to the This led to the proclamation of the Ulster proclamation of the Ulster Solemn League & Solemn League & CovenantCovenant those who signed promised those who signed promised

to oppose Home Rule by all to oppose Home Rule by all means necessarymeans necessary

470,000 signed the Covenant470,000 signed the Covenant Carson and other leaders Carson and other leaders

signed in their own bloodsigned in their own blood


3 reasons why Home Rule would be

against Ireland’s interests

Commitment to defend Ireland from

Home Rule

Refusal to recognise a Home Rule Parliament if

it ever becomes established

Declaration of Loyalty to the King

and Empire


What is the cartoonists message?

…and what symbolism is he

using?


Ulster Ulster Volunteer Volunteer

ForceForce Early 1913 a private army Early 1913 a private army

was set up to give military was set up to give military muscle to Unionist demandsmuscle to Unionist demands It was 100,000 strongIt was 100,000 strong at first trained with wooden at first trained with wooden

riflesrifles

What was the Larne gun-What was the Larne gun-running incident, 24 April running incident, 24 April 1914?1914? 20,000 German rifles and 20,000 German rifles and

three million rounds of three million rounds of ammunition landedammunition landed

distributed quickly amongst distributed quickly amongst Ulster VolunteersUlster Volunteers

though illegal the British did though illegal the British did nothing to stop itnothing to stop it


Curragh Curragh MutinyMutiny Asquith’s dilemma: Asquith’s dilemma:

If it came to civil war would the Govt If it came to civil war would the Govt use the British Army to fight loyal use the British Army to fight loyal Ulster Unionists who wanted to Ulster Unionists who wanted to remain British citizens?remain British citizens?

What was the Curragh Mutiny? What was the Curragh Mutiny? March 1914 Sixty British officers March 1914 Sixty British officers

stationed at Curragh military camp stationed at Curragh military camp refused to fight against the Ulster refused to fight against the Ulster VolunteersVolunteers

Officers were British and IrishOfficers were British and Irish They had been ordered to safeguard They had been ordered to safeguard

munitions depots against raids by munitions depots against raids by the UVFthe UVF

Other British officers warned they Other British officers warned they would follow the Curragh example.would follow the Curragh example.

A major crisis with a war looming A major crisis with a war looming had to be avoidedhad to be avoided

The British Govt tells officers they The British Govt tells officers they would not be ordered to fight the would not be ordered to fight the UVFUVF

Why is this a bad time for a major

crisis in the army?


Who do you think is running from the crowd?

Where do the British soldiers sympathies lie?


Belfast postcard produced in

1914

Note the use of the British Union Jack in

the UVF flag


Partition ConsideredPartition Considered Privately Carson knew that Home Rule Privately Carson knew that Home Rule

could not be stopped for all Irelandcould not be stopped for all Ireland His aim was to exclude the 9 counties of Ulster His aim was to exclude the 9 counties of Ulster

from Home Rulefrom Home Rule Protestants had a majority in Ulster (60% to 40%)Protestants had a majority in Ulster (60% to 40%)

Asquith aimed to satisfy the Unionists by Asquith aimed to satisfy the Unionists by partition of Northeast Ulster:partition of Northeast Ulster: 6 counties only would be excluded from Home 6 counties only would be excluded from Home

Rule for six years.Rule for six years. Unionists refused saying they did not want to remain Unionists refused saying they did not want to remain

in the British Empire only on a temporary basisin the British Empire only on a temporary basis Carson said that the proposal was aCarson said that the proposal was a ““sentence of death with a stay of execution for six sentence of death with a stay of execution for six

years”years”


Video: Video: “The Troubles” – “The Troubles” – Part 2Part 2

6 – 18 mins 6 – 18 mins [12 mins total][12 mins total]

Unionist reaction to Home RuleUnionist reaction to Home Rule Conservatives encourage Conservatives encourage

resistanceresistance Partition compromisePartition compromise MutinyMutiny UVF armingUVF arming

Travel

6. Unionists