leaving cert irish history essays

History Predictions 2024 (Later Modern) for Leaving Cert Higher Level

• Post author: Martina
• Post published: January 18, 2024
• Post category: History / Predictions

Updated January 2024 The Later Modern History course for the Leaving Cert is very broad, with a maximum of 12 possible topics to cover, each with multiple sub topics. Often,…

Racial equality during 1945-1989 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: June 22, 2023
• Post category: #625Lab History / History

During the period 1945 - 1989, to what extent did the movement for racial equality achieve meaningful change in the US? (Higher Level 2019) Cumulative Marks: 78/60 -  Due to the wealth of information and number…

How effective a leader was Joseph Stalin during World War II for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: September 20, 2022

How effective a leader was Josef Stalin during World War II  Essay credit: Conor Gleeson. Graded 82/100 You may also like: To what extent did Lenin and/or Stalin bring about…

What were the main developments in church-state relations under Hitler and Mussolini?

• Post published: October 25, 2021

This essay is corrected as 95/100 with detailed feedback at the bottom of this essay. Essay credit: Aisling Walsh. You may also like Complete guide to Leaving Cert History The…

Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert History Guide 2023

• Post published: August 1, 2021
• Post category: History

This is relating to Leaving Cert 2023 and left here for reference purposes only. The examinable course is available here History 2024 2025 Start with these free resources: History mock…

Partition of Ireland 1912 to 1920 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: April 22, 2020

#625Lab – History, marked 78/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). The factors that contributed to the partition of Ireland between the period…

Connolly and Larkin in the Irish Labour Movement for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: April 18, 2020

#625Lab – History, marked 88/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). What was the contribution of James Connolly and/or Jim Larkin to the…

Irish government and the consolidation of democracy 1922-32 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: April 6, 2020

How did the Irish government contribute to the consolidation of democracy 1922-1932? #625Lab – History, marked 72/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€).…

The controversies surrounding the treaty negotiations 1921 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: March 20, 2020

The Controversies surrounding the treaty negotiations 1921. #625Lab – History, marked 80/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Essay credit: Ciara McCarthy…

Causes of World War I for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: June 2, 2019

What were the causes of World War I? #625Lab – History, marked 88/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). By mid-1914 for…

Ireland 1912-1923: the use of physical force for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: March 31, 2019

The threat and use of physical force had massive effects on Ireland from 1912-1923. The foundation of two armed groups, the Ulster Volunteers and the Irish volunteers, both with vastly opposing aims, gave rise to an era of conflict in Ireland.

Government of Ireland Act 1920 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: February 2, 2019

What caused the Government of Ireland Act 1920 to come into legislation? #625Lab – History, marked 70/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€).…

Cosgrave and De Valera for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: January 27, 2019

During the period 1922-39, who achieved more in Anglo-Irish relations, Cosgrave or De Valera? Argue your case, referring to both. #625Lab – History, marked 87/100, detailed feedback at the very…

Germany 1920-39: social and economic problems for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: January 20, 2019

What were the social and economic problems facing Germany 1920-39 and how were they dealt with? #625Lab – History, marked 80/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also…

US race relations, 1945-1968 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: January 8, 2019

What were the main developments in race relations in the US, 1945-1968? #625Lab – History, marked 87/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€).…

Lenin, Stalin and economics and social change for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: January 1, 2019

To what extent did Lenin and/or Stalin bring about social and economic change? #625Lab – History, marked 70/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History…

Martin Luther King and the Montgomery bus boycott for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: December 21, 2018

What was the contribution of Martin Luther King to the Montgomery bus boycott and to other aspects of US life? #625Lab – History, marked 85/100, detailed feedback at the very…

US Foreign Policy for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: December 19, 2018

During the period 1945-1989, what was the importance of US foreign policy of one or more of the following: Berlin, Korea, Cuba? #625Lab – History, marked 70/100, detailed feedback at…

Cumann na nGaedheal Government 1923-1932 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: December 16, 2018

The Achievements of the Cumann na nGaedheal Government 1923-1932 #625Lab – History, marked 89/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Eimear O’Sullivan The Cumann…

Anglo-Irish Treaty for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: December 3, 2018

Assess the provisions of the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921) and consider the principal arguments for and against it. #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Eimear O'Sullivan The truce…

Eamon de Valera as a political leader for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: November 28, 2018

What were the strengths and weaknesses of Eamon de Valera as a political leader? #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Ellis Byrne. Eamon de Valera was…

Fianna Fail compared to Cumann na nGaedheal for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: November 22, 2018

How radical was the economic and social policy adopted by Fianna Fail after 1932 compared to Cumann na nGaedheal? #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Ellis…

Winston Churchill as a leader during World War II for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: November 15, 2018

How effective a leader was Winston Churchill or Josef Stalin during World War II? #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Ellis Byrne. Feedback: This is a…

Stalin’s propaganda and terror for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: November 1, 2018

How did Stalin use propaganda and terror to remain in power? #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Essay 1 Credit: Brian Ronayne. Feedback: This is a…

Isaac Butt’s strengths and weaknesses for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: May 15, 2018

Comment on Isaac Butt’s strengths and weaknesses as leader of the Home Rule Party. #625Lab - History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€) Feedback: The factual content…

Leaving Cert History: Documents and Essays 2018 and 2019

• Post published: April 29, 2018

For the more up to date version for Leaving Cert 2020 and 2021, have a look at this History Documents and Essay guide This our concise History edition. Our full…

What were the main developments in race relations in the US, 1945-1968? #625Lab

• Post published: March 27, 2018

#625Lab History Although slavery was abolished in America in 1863, discrimination against black Americans remained prominent throughout society more than a century later. Widespread racism was evident, particularly in many…

What were the main developments in church-state relations under Hitler and Mussolini? #625Lab

• Post published: March 14, 2018

#625Lab – History, marked 87/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€).  With both Fascist parties rising to power in Italy and Germany, they…

What contribution did Joseph Goebbels and/or Leni Riefenstahl make to Nazi propaganda? #625Lab

• Post published: January 7, 2018

#625Lab – History, marked 87/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). There is very good use of factual information, which brings up the…

Leaving Cert History: Feminism in Ireland

• Post published: October 8, 2017

The role of women in Ireland, 1870-1914. Perspective: Economy and SocietyYou may also like:Leaving Cert History Complete Guide (€)The Status of WomenUntil the 1860s, women had to give up their…

Leaving Cert History Sample Essay: Religion and Culture in Northern Ireland

• Post published: August 29, 2016

What was the contribution of the Apprentice Boys of Derry to the celebration of religious and cultural identity among that city’s unionist minority? (2006)The Apprentice Boys of Derry, founded in…

The US and The World: Politics and Administration

• Post published: August 12, 2016

Timeline: The US and the world, 1945-1989Perspective: Politics and AdministrationImportant contextual information: US Government structureDon't miss out on the latest A1 notes and tips from top Leaving Cert performers!The Federal…

US and The World Sample Answer: Lyndon Johnson as a Political Leader

“What were the strengths and weaknesses of Lyndon Johnson as a political leader?” 2014 Higher Level Paper, Section 3, Topic 6, Q2.  THE US AND THE WORLD, 1945-1989 Don't forget…

Video: Nuremberg Rallies

• Post published: December 3, 2015

Please click continue reading to view video Don't miss out on the latest A1 notes and tips from top Leaving Cert performers!Leaving Cert English Sample Essay and NotesFollow @625pointssix25points

Video: Stalin’s show trials

Please click continue reading to view videoDon't miss out on the latest A1 notes and tips from top Leaving Cert performers!Leaving Cert English Sample Essay and NotesFollow @625pointssix25points

What were the significant developments in the US economy 1945-1989?

• Post published: September 1, 2015

After facing years of economic lethargy during the time of economic depression in the 1930s and the following Second World War the US emerged as the most powerful economy in…

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• Feb 16, 2023

Mastering Leaving Cert History: A Guide to Writing Sample Essays

Updated: Feb 17

Leaving Cert History is one of the most challenging subjects for Irish students, especially when it comes to writing essays. The exam requires students to write two essays on topics chosen from a list of options. These essays carry a significant amount of marks and can make or break a student's chances of securing a good grade. However, with the right approach, mastering Leaving Cert History essays is possible. In this blog, we will provide tips and insights on how to write sample essays for Leaving Cert History.

1. Understanding the Essay Structure

The first step to writing a great essay is to understand its structure. An essay has three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide background information on the topic. The body should include the main argument, supported by evidence and examples. The conclusion should summarise the main points and restate the thesis.

2. Choosing the Right Topic

Choosing the right topic is crucial for a successful essay. The Leaving Cert History syllabus provides a list of options for essays. It is essential to choose a topic that interests you and that you are familiar with. The topic should be narrow enough to provide a focused argument but broad enough to allow for enough research and analysis.

3. Research and Analysis

Research and analysis are crucial for a well-written essay. Start by reading through relevant texts and taking notes. Use primary sources, such as diaries, letters, and speeches, to support your argument. It is also essential to analyze the information and present a clear argument, using evidence to support your claims.

4. Writing Style and Grammar

Writing style and grammar are essential for a good essay. Use clear and concise language, avoiding slang and colloquialisms. Avoid long and complex sentences that can be difficult to understand. Make sure to proofread your work to avoid spelling and grammatical errors.

5. Time Management

Time management is crucial during the Leaving Cert exam. Make sure to allocate enough time to each section of the exam, including essay writing. Plan your essay before you start writing, including a clear thesis statement, main argument, and supporting evidence. Leave enough time for proofreading and editing.

In conclusion, writing a Leaving Cert History essay can be challenging, but with the right approach, it is possible to master it. Understanding the essay structure, choosing the right topic, research and analysis, writing style and grammar, and time management are all essential components of a successful essay. Practice writing sample essays, and seek feedback from your teachers to improve your writing skills. With these tips and insights, you will be well on your way to writing successful Leaving Cert History essays. Good luck!

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How to get a H1 in Leaving Cert History

Vicky got a H1 in her Leaving Cert History and in this guide, she shares her advice for succeeding in this subject. 

Introduction

To some, history can appear challenging with the amount of information you're expected to know by the end of 6th year. That's what I thought at the beginning of 5th year anyway but I quickly learned that once I broke down the subject into topics and each topic into a select number of essay titles, the information required is much more manageable than it seems.

The research study report (RSR)

This was perhaps my favourite aspect of the entire history course because, despite one or two restrictions, you can basically do your RSR project on anything in history that suits your specific interests. Below are some tips for achieving a good grade in your research project:

Do what you love

When picking your research topic, don't choose something just because it sounds impressive. Instead, choose something that you're passionate about or have always wanted to learn more about. The RSR project is all about independent research and trust me, you will not be motivated to research a topic you couldn't care less about.

Keep it niche

The more specific your chosen topic, the better. Even if you think your topic is entirely unprecedented, chances are the examiner has seen it before. Ask your teacher for advice as they might have corrected dozens of RSRs before and will be able to steer you clear of the most commonly seen topics. Otherwise, try to approach your subject with a unique stance. This way, the corrector will appreciate a fresh take and will probably be more generous with their marks.

Keep the criteria in mind

Keep in mind the restrictions to avoid losing valuable marks. The dates of your research study must be before 1993 if your subject relates to Irish history and before 1992 if your subject relates to the history of Europe and the wider world. 

The word count of your main essay will vary depending on your level but as a general rule of thumb, 600-800 words for ordinary level and 1200-1500 for higher. Also, make sure you keep track of the sources you use because you need to be able to cite them in your write-up.

Get it done early

Try to get the bulk of the project done asap, preferably in 5th year or throughout the summer break between 5th year and 6th year (when you still have some semblance of free time). The last thing you want is to leave it until the last minute. The project is usually due around the time of the mock exams and the orals and it will just be another source of stress if you procrastinate. You don't want to end up submitting a rushed project that won’t achieve the marks you deserve. 

The RSR is an opportunity to guarantee 20% of your overall marks before you even sit the final exam so take advantage of it.

The written exam

The document based question (dbq).

The document question is probably the second easiest way of gathering marks so long as you don't underestimate them. The DBQ case studies are worth 100 marks (20%) in total and will be examined in a question with the following format:

As you can see, they are not just a comprehension and require a lot of preparation.

If you think a certain topic won’t appear because it came up the previous year, there are no rules explicitly stating otherwise so be prepared for all three.

Approaching this section

Here is my advice for tackling the DBQs:

Practice makes perfect

Practice document-style comprehension questions regularly as it’s imperative that you become familiar with the questions they typically ask. For example, the questions in Section 1 typically require a one-line answer that you can take directly from the text. For Section 2, learning how to compare two different documents is very important and for Section 3 you need to know key terms such as ‘bias’ and ‘secondary source’ to answer many of the questions.

Make a quick plan

For Sections 2 and 3, you’ll need to write around 2 pages to get full marks and as always when it comes to writing, you should plan anything that's longer than a page. I suggest reading the passages carefully and planning your answer in points before writing. Be sure that you know what they are asking for and highlight the sections of the document that you're planning to reference in your answer beforehand so that you can easily locate them. 

Short essay question

Planning applies to the short essay in Section 4 too. I wrote a rough essay plan on the three topics with a clear bullet-point structure well in advance of the exam so that I would have something to follow on the day. The titles themselves are generally uncomplicated and do not require much time to grasp so you should be able to use your plan to fit any question.

Sections 2 and 3 of the history exam require you to write long (3.5-6 pages) essays in response to a prompt. Depending on the category of your DBQ, you will either have to write two Irish history essays and one European history essay or two European history essays and one Irish history essay. Either way, each of these essays is worth 100 marks so pay close attention. Here's some useful information and advice for preparing for your essays:

The cumulative mark

The essays are scored in a very particular way wherein you'll receive a cumulative mark (CM) out of 60 for historical content. This is usually the sum of the scores each paragraph receives. Your essay can have a minimum of five paragraphs in order to achieve the maximum of 60 but a student would rarely receive 12/12 per paragraph. The best thing to do with your essays then is to make sure you have 8-12 paragraphs (including a relevant introduction and a strong conclusion). That way, you can score as low as 5 or 6 per paragraph and still get a very high CM.

Overall evaluation

The other 40 marks go for overall evaluation (OE) which rates the quality of the answer out of 40. To get a high mark here, you have to give a detailed answer that shows the examiner that you have not only given great thought to your analysis but studied this topic in-depth. A simple way to show this is by showing off any extra research you did and including quotes in your answer (this really impresses examiners).

Know what to expect

History is a subject that you can be prepared for before you even sit the exam. I studied past exam papers to get a sense of the frequently asked topics so I knew what to focus my time on. The papers generally follow some sort of pattern so you can look out for any repeated essay questions. However, I would not over-rely on these patterns as they are not guaranteed to appear.

Study what you're interested in

After studying the past papers, I selected 4 essay titles per topic (12 in total) that interested me the most. Similar to the RSR project, there is no point in forcing yourself to learn off information that you have no interest in. I cannot remember the number of times I tried to force myself to learn the 'significant developments in US foreign policy from 1973-1989' only to forget it hours later. I eventually gave up and switched my attention to ‘race relations’, something I found more interesting and ended up learning 10 times faster. Similarly, I chose to learn anything and everything about the ‘cultural revival’ as it was the one aspect of the Irish history course that I enjoyed and found it showed up in some way or other every year without fail.

Textbook alternatives

To further prepare for the essays, I recommend doing outside reading and research. For Europe and the wider world, for example, I found there to be an abundance of documentaries and biographies that immersed me into the time period more effectively than merely studying facts from a textbook.

History may be one of the most demanding subjects out there in terms of time so stick to a plan and dedicate no more than 40 minutes to each question. 

Find a study technique to suit you

Everyone studies differently. Some people find that flashcards help them retain information easily, some prefer to learn from bullet point essay plans and some like to watch historical documentaries on Netflix or YouTube. Since I am a visual learner, I took an essay and illustrated it into a graphic novel or comic book style. I typically had three cartoon images per paragraph and I wrote the key dates or statistics in bold or bubble writing throughout the comic. It may have taken slightly longer to prepare than flashcards but once I had them drawn, I could easily recall them without any issues. Perhaps if you struggle with the more familiar study methods, you could give this one a try.

Get organised

Dedicate a separate study folder to history and split it into different topic questions. This folder will be specifically for your essays and essay plans or whatever you find easiest to study from. This way, there will be no issues when trying to locate a particular essay that you plan to revise.

Get the preparation done early

Have all your preparations complete before Christmas break so that afterwards, it is merely a matter of grabbing the essays and revising the content.

Practice your timing

This is vital. You could have everything else planned and prepared to perfection and still end up falling at the final hurdle if you do not consider timing. History may be one of the most demanding subjects out there about timing, having to write 3 long essays, 1 short essay and answer a comprehension all in the space of 2 hours and 50 minutes. You must know the exact length of time that it takes you to write out the content. 

Time yourself writing essays

If you find that you're going over the limit of 40 minutes, cut the essay down. Remember, this is not an English essay so there is no need for flowery prose and filler language. History essays are fact-based and you should easily be able to fit an essay into the given time.

Bring a watch

On the day of the exam, bring a watch with you. As previously mentioned, the exam is heavily time-dependent so you do not want to be wasting precious time craning your neck and squinting your eyes to the giant clock on the wall of the exam hall.

Keep calm and carry on

Next is to breathe and remain calm. The more stress you place upon yourself, the less you will be able to think and recall facts. Take the first 10 minutes of the exam to scan through the paper and highlight the essay titles that you're capable of doing. If there is more than one per topic, choose the question that you feel more confident in answering and which suits your particular range of knowledge.

Plan before you start writing

One of the most important tips I have for you is to plan all three essays by the question before you even start the exam. Remember, your OE will be based on how well you answered the question so you must be aware of what the question is asking of you. You could write 100 pages on the moon landing but end up getting 0 marks if you don't accurately answer the question. I wrote out bullet points describing what each paragraph is about, followed by the key dates and statistics. This way you can easily reference the plans later on in the exam when you will likely be exhausted and less focused. This way, you will not have to worry about wasting time trying to recall a certain date mid-way through writing the essay and thus lose your train of thought.

Do not leave early

If you do happen to write all the content very quickly and find that you have extra time at the end, do not leave early. Revise the essays that you have written. Fact check and date check that everything is accurate and that you did not omit any information. You can always improve your essays or DBQ responses in the extra time.

Some final tips

for the Leaving Cert History exam.

Hope these help - happy studying!

Best of luck with the exam! You'll be great.

Leaving Cert History Revision Guide The Anglo Irish Treaty

• Why was a treaty proposed?
• What did both sides want?
• The problems facing the delegation (before, during, and after the negotiations)
• The reasons for signing.
• The consequences of signing.

The Anglo-Irish Treaty: Where did it all begin?

So, from 1919-1921, Ireland and Britain were at war with one another because Ireland wanted to leave the British Empire and become an independent country. In 1921 the fighting between the IRA and the British Army ended so that both sides could hold peace talks. Ireland sent a group of politicians (a delegation) to London to negotiate with the British government. 

What did Ireland and Britain want?

Ireland wanted to become a fully independent nation, completely free from British Rule.

Britain wanted to keep Ireland as part of the British Empire because Ireland provided Britain with security during wartime.

All Lloyd George would offer was Dominion Status, which basically meant that Ireland would have its own government and parliament, but the British government was still ultimately in charge.

Dominion Status: The Facts

When a country is given Dominion Status, think of it like becoming a teenager: you have more freedom than you once did, but you are still under the control of your parents. And nobody likes that, right? 

*Spoiler Alert! The delegates did NOT get the Treaty that everyone hoped for – instead, they were given Dominion Status. So why couldn't they negotiate better terms?*

The Irish Delegation: Early Problems

The problems arose even BEFORE the delegates left Dublin: some of the delegates disliked and distrusted each other. Some of the delegates were hard=line Republicans, and they were extremely stubborn with the British government, and some of them made a bad impression in London.

The delegates weren't even sure exactly how much power they were given by De Valera. The Dáil had unanimously agreed that the delegates should be given plenipotentiary power (full power) and could negotiate and sign a treaty on behalf of the government. But, De Valera told the delegates that they still could not sign anything until they checked to see if it was OK with De Valera in Dublin. This not only confused the delegates but also slowed down the negotiating process.

The Delegation Arrives in London: “Fish out of Water”  

So, when the delegates arrived in London they were already on bad footing. To make matters worse, De Valera chose not to accompany the delegates to London: there are many different theories as to why De Valera made this decision, but whatever the case may be, the Irish delegates were in London negotiating what was perhaps the biggest political deal in the Irish history without their leader.

When the delegates got to London, they were about to face one of the most ruthless, experienced negotiators in British history: David Lloyd George, the British Prime Minister (pictured below). The Irish delegates had nowhere near Lloyd George’s experience in international politics – it was a very intimidating situation for the Irish delegation.

The British Advantage: “David versus Goliath”

• The negotiations took place in No. 10 Downing Street. This gave the British the home advantage: they were comfortable with the surroundings, the Irish were not.
• The British had access to highly trained legal advisers to offer an expert opinion – the Irish did not.
• The British leader, David Lloyd George led the negotiations – the Irish were in London without their leader.
• The British had the option of enforcing their terms by military force if the talks fell through – the Irish did not have this option.

The Question of Partition: What about Ulster? 

Partition was one of the biggest issues of the negotiations: you need to remember that NOT EVERYBODY living in Ireland wanted a republic… What would happen to the Northern counties that still wanted to remain part of the British Empire?

The Irish delegates suggested that the Ulster counties could vote on whether to stay in the British Empire or to join the South. If some counties wanted to stay with Britain, they could have their parliament in Belfast, but that parliament would be answerable to the Dáil, not to Westminster.

Lloyd George refused this: he said that he would only persuade the Northern Unionists to join an Irish government if the Irish agreed to remain a part of the Empire. It was a tough situation.

Partitioning Ireland: “Between a Rock and a Hard Place”

In the end, a compromise was reached: a Boundary Commission would redraw the boundary between North and North, nationalist counties could go to the South, and Unionists could stay with the Empire. But there was a catch… if this happened, Ireland would be partitioned permanently, and hard-line Republicans who had fought for an independent, unified Ireland would be extremely angry – it would seem like the sacrifices and the suffering during the War of Independence was all for nothing.

Well, in the end, that is exactly what happened; despite the best efforts of the delegates to get better terms, it was simply no use. Lloyd George offered the following terms:

•  Ireland would have Dominion Status within the Empire.
• The Irish politicians could swear allegiance to the Irish constitution – this was a better deal than most other Dominion States had. Regarding the British monarchy, the Irish only needed to promise to be faithful to the British King.

The ‘promise to be faithful to the King’ was a bit suspicious, and too hard-line Republicans back in Ireland it would have certainly sounded a lot like the oath of allegiance in disguise… surely the delegates would have realised this? 

So why did they sign the treaty?

The ‘Carrot and the Stick’: Why did the Delegates sign the Treaty?

The short answer is that they had no choice. Here’s why…

• The delegation asked to refer the terms to De Valera, but Lloyd George flatly refused and he reminded Collins that the Irish delegation were plenipotentiaries (ambassadors) and that they had the power to negotiate and sign on the behalf of Ireland. Therefore the delegates were forced to make a massive decision under extreme pressure without consulting De Valera.
• Lloyd George used the ‘carrot and the stick’ approach: either the Irish accept Britain’s offer (that was the ‘carrot’) and sign the treaty or Britain would go to war with Ireland (there’s the ‘stick’).
• Collins was a realist: he knew that the British would never offer full independence straight away, and he also knew that getting Dominion Status was better than nothing…it was a step in the right direction, a step towards full independence. The other Dominion States were moving closer to independence, and Collins believed that Ireland would follow suit.

Dark Days Ahead: The Threat of Civil War

In the end, the Treaty caused massive divisions in the Dáil. Moderate Republicans did not like the treaty, but they knew that it was better than nothing and that it might lead to full independence in the future. But De Valera openly opposed it and so did hard-line Republicans. Eventually, the entire country would be divided over the Treaty question, and Ireland would descend into a brutal Civil War in which pro-Treatyites and anti-Treatyites fought each other.

Check out our Leaving Cert History Notes and boost your grade to H1

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In order to provide a more personal user experience, we and our partners use technologies such as cookies, and process personal information. These cookies are used to collect non-sensitive data about how you interact with our website and browsing ... Read more