Irish War of Independence

The Irish War of Independence was a conflict that took place in Ireland from 1919 to 1921. It involved Irish groups who wanted independence and the British government, which ruled Ireland at the time. The war followed World War I, a period when many people in Ireland supported self-rule. Self-rule means that a country governs itself instead of being controlled by another country.

Before the war, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. In 1916, a short rebellion called the Easter Rising took place in Dublin. Although it failed, it increased support for independence. In 1918, an Irish political party called Sinn Féin won many seats in the British Parliament. Instead of going to London, its members formed their own assembly in Dublin, called Dáil Éireann. They declared Ireland an independent state.

The fighting began in January 1919. The main Irish fighting force was the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The IRA used small groups to attack police stations, patrols, and supply routes. This type of fighting is often called guerrilla warfare, which means using surprise attacks instead of large battles. On the British side were the police and later special forces sent from Britain.

Violence increased across the country. Both sides carried out raids and arrests. Cities, towns, and rural areas were affected. One important event was Bloody Sunday in November 1920, when violence occurred in Dublin on the same day between both sides. The conflict caused disruption to daily life and damage to buildings and transport.

By 1921, both sides were tired from fighting. A truce, which is an agreement to stop fighting, began in July 1921. Talks followed between Irish leaders and British officials. These talks led to the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed in December 1921. A treaty is a formal agreement between governments.

The treaty ended the war and created the Irish Free State, which covered most of Ireland. Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom. The treaty caused disagreement among Irish leaders and later led to another conflict, the Irish Civil War. The Irish War of Independence marked a major change in Ireland’s political history.