Easter Rising

The Easter Rising (Irish: Éirí Amach na Cásca) was a militarily unsuccessful rebellion staged in Ireland against British rule on Easter Monday in April 1916. Nevertheless, despite its military failure, it can be judged as being a significant stepping-stone in the eventual creation of the Irish Republic.

Long-term Impact

The Rising is generally seen as having been doomed to military defeat from the outset, and to have been understood as such by at least some of its leaders: critics have seen in it elements of a "blood sacrifice" in line with some of the romantically-inclined Pearse's writings. Though the violent precursor to Irish statehood, it did nothing to reassure Irish unionists nor alleviate the demand to partition Ulster.

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Although the Easter Rising is recognised, and treated, as an important stage in Ireland's historical development, its political ramifications are still being understood. Some historians are at odds in determining if the 1916 Rising or the 1922 Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed between Irish delegates and the British government in 1921 after the Anglo-Irish War, forming the Irish Free State, is considered the starting date of independence (as this is when it was first formally recognised by the British and other nations). The Irish Free State existed until 1937 when Bunreacht na hÉireann (the Irish constitution) was introduced, renaming the country "Ireland". At this stage Ireland was a Republic in everything but name. In 1949 the government declared Ireland to be a Republic.

Related Topics:
Anglo-Irish Treaty - Anglo-Irish War - Irish Free State

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