2. John Redmond and Home Rule
 John Redmond was leader of the Home Rule Party
 Wanted “Semi-independence” from Britain
 In 1910 he convinced Prime Minister Herbert Asquith to grant
home rule to Ireland. Due to start in 1914…
Asquith

3. 1911 – The Parliament Act
King George V decided that the Veto of
the House of Lords was Undemocratic.
He forced the House of Lords to pass the
Act which weakened their power – now
they could only delay laws for 2 Years.

5. 1912 – Home Rule at last
1912 – Asquith (Liberal Prime
Minister) gets home rule
approved by the House of
Commons.
Set to come into effect by 1914 as
House of Lords can no longer
block it.

6. The Unionist Response
 Unionists hated the idea of Home Rule – felt that Protestants
would be discriminated by Catholics under Home Rule
 Slogan – “Home Rule is Rome Rule” – this referred to the
Roman Catholic Church and the power it could have under
Home Rule
 Two Leaders – Sir Edward Carson (L) and Sir James Craig (R)

8. Unionist Response
 Carson and Craig organised a campaign against Home Rule
 Mass Protests held and ½ a million people signed the “Ulster
Covenant” – highlighting their opposition to Home Rule
 Also set up armed groups to fight the proposed introduction of
Home Rule – The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF, still in existence
today)
 Imported guns into Larne, Co. Antrim to ensure they were
ready to fight
 After that Nationalists had to respond too…

9. Signing the Ulster Covenant

10. UVF in Training - 1912

11. Nationalist Response
 Nationalists responded by setting up their own armed force –
The Irish National Volunteers – and importing arms into
Howth
 It now looked likely that War was going to break out in Ireland
between Unionists and Nationalists.
 Asquith wanted the two sides to agree to split Ireland in two –
this was known as Partition. Neither side could agree on
where the border would be.
 But suddenly in July 1914, World War 1 broke out – this meant
that the whole idea of Partition/Home Rule was put to one
side while the war was on!

12. Guns smuggled into Howth

13. Irish Volunteers

14. World War One

15. Ireland and World War 1
 Most Irish People opposed Germany in World War One
 A majority of both Unionists and Nationalists supported
Ireland being involved in the War and many Nationalists as
well as Unionists joined the British Army
 Redmond appeared on posters urging nationalists to do their
part in the war
 206,000 Irishmen fought
 30,000 Irishmen died
 Home Rule POSTPONED until end of war