Review of Ireland 1923-1932

• Presentation prepared by:

• Dominic Haugh• St. Particks Comprehensive School• Shannon• Co. Clare

• Presentation can be used for educational purposes only – all rights remain with author

Review of Ireland 1922-1939

• Political Parties 1922

• Cumann na nGaedheal (pro-Treaty Sinn Fein)

• Sinn Fein (anti-Treaty)

• Labour Party

• Farmers Party

Cumann na nGaedheal 1923-32

• General Election August 1923

• Sinn Fein refuses to attend Dail (abstention)

• Cumman na nGaedheal has majority

• William T. Cosgrave (President of Executive)

Issues Facing Government

• Consolidating the State

• Law and Order

• Economic Difficulties

• Foreign Policy

Consolidating the State

• The ‘New’ Civil Service

• The Civic Guard (the Gardai)

• The Courts

• Local Government

• Founding of Fianna Fail (1926)

Law and Order

• Civic Guard (the Gardai)

• Dealing with IRA

• The Army Mutiny 1924

• The Assassination of Kevin O’Higgins

• New Laws force Fianna Fail to take the Oath of Allegiance

• The Red Scare 1929

Economic Difficulties

• Economic Recession (began 1921)• Economic problems from war• Laissez-Faire policies • Emphasis on Agriculture• Balance the books

• Ultimate Financial Agreement 1926• Government to continue paying land annuties

Specific Measures

• 1923 – cuts in pay for civil servants, teachers and gardai

• 1924 – cuts in old age pension

• 1924 – cuts taxes

• 1927 – ACC established

• 1927 – Building of Shannon Scheme

Foreign Policy

• Participation in League of Nations

• Participation in Imperial Conferences

• 1925 – The Boundary Commission

• 1931 – Statute of Westminster

Questions to Ask??

• How successful were Cumann na nGaedheal in Power?

• Consolidating the New State?

• Law and Order?

• Economic Policy?

• Foreign Policy?

Fianna Fail in Power 1932-1939

• Elected with help of Labour in 1932

• 1933 – Snap election – win overall majority

• Threats to the State (Law and Order)

• 1937 Constitution

• Foreign Policy

• Economic Policies

Threats to the State

• IRA

• DeValera releases IRA men from jail

• By 1936 uses the same powers to re-arrest them again

• Threats from the Blueshirts

New Constitution

• Dismantling the Treaty

• 1932 – Abolished the Oath of Allegiance

• 1932 – Undermined the Governor General

• 1936 – Constitutional Amendment Act and External Relations Act

• 1937 – New Constitution

Foreign Policy

• Tied to –

• Dismantling of the Treaty

• Economic War

Economic Policy

• More government involvement in Economy

• More spending on housing and services

• Drive to develop industry

• Implementation of a policy of Protectionism

• DeValera wants to break economic links with Britain

• Drive for self-sufficiency

Economic War

• 1932 – July – DeValera refuses to pay land annuities

• Sparks Economic War with Britain

• Both sides impose tariffs on imports

• ‘Burn everything British but it’s coal’

• 1935 – The Coal-Cattle Pact

• 1938 – The Anglo Irish Agreement

Questions to Ask??

• How successful were Fianna Fail in Power?

• Law and Order?

• Foreign Policy?

• Economic Policy?

• Did deValera make Ireland ‘self-sufficient’?

Main Topics for Questions

• Success or failure of different policies

• Comparing CnanG and FF in different policy areas

• Comparing success or failure of Cosgrave and deValera

Homework

• Take each policy topic and outline one reason why you feel the government of the time were a success or failure

• 4 for Cummann na nGaedheal 1923-1932

• 4 for Fianna Fail 1932-1939