MODULE 4. THE EASTER RISING 1: BEFORE THE REVOLUTION LESSON LESSON DESCRIPTION 1. The first lesson in the module will explore the historical background to the Easter Rising by introducing students to the social, political and cultural factors that shaped Ireland before 1916. The lesson outlines the political tensions surrounding the introduction of Home Rule in 1912. We see how the Home Rule crisis was a pivotal event leading to the Easter Rising. LESSON INTENTIONS LESSON OUTCOMES 1. Discuss the range of views and • Be able to discuss how the experiences that shaped people’s Home Rule crisis changed political views and activities. the nature of both the 2. Explain the origins of the Home nationalist and unionist political Rule Crisis in 1912 and summarise movements, and led to the the reactions to it. events of 1916. 3. Demonstrate an understanding of • Employ ICT skills to express an the political changes of the time understanding of the topic. through the use of digital media. HANDOUTS DIGITAL SOFTWARE HARDWARE AND GUIDES • Lesson 1 Key • Suggested • Comic • Whiteboard Information Additional Creation • PCs/laptops I N • M4L1Tasksheet Resources Software RO P • Comic Creation e.g. Comic Storyboard Life • Digital Imaging • Image Design Sheet Editing Software e.g. GIMP www.nervecentre.org/teachingdividedhistories MODULE 4: LESSON 1: LESSON PLAN 9 MODULE 4. THE EASTER RISING 1: BEFORE THE REVOLUTION ACTIVITY LEARNING OUTCOMES Starter - Play Suggested Watching the animation will give Additional Resource 4 from the students an understanding of Key Information.The animation will unionist opposition to Home Rule provide students with an explanation and act as an introduction to some of the Ulster Covenant. of the information discussed in the lesson. Using the Key Information, teachers will have a choice of activities to engage students. The Key Information is designed to Teachers may choose to split the cover the information within the topic class into groups and ask students to and meet the learning objectives. use the discussion points to discuss some aspects of the Key Information. The discussion questions on the Key Students will then share their Information are designed to meet discussions with the rest of the class. the learning objectives through interaction and Q&A. Alternatively, teachers may want to use the Questions/Tasks as group The questions on the factsheet discussion questions or to test are designed to meet the learning individual knowledge. objectives through the pupils understanding and application of the PR The Alternate Task allows students information. ON I to work in groups to research and discuss unionist opposition to Home The various activities should allow Rule and profile three of the main the students to learn while they political figures at the time. interact. The activities will also serve to reinforce knowledge and encourage discussion. * If possible, allow students to research the topic on the internet – suggested additional resources/ search engine. Plenary – discuss with students the The plenary discussion will focus reasons why unionists were opposed on the opposition of unionists to to Home Rule and whether or not Home Rule and challenge students their stance was justified. to evaluate the reasons for this opposition. 10 MODULE 4: LESSON 1: LESSON PLAN www.nervecentre.org/teachingdividedhistories MODULE 4. THE EASTER RISING 1: BEFORE THE REVOLUTION KEY INFORMATION 1. BEFORE THE REVOLUTION THE DIVERSITY OF VIEWPOINTS At the beginning of the twentieth century, a number of different political movements were active in Ireland, each with its own goals and its own ideas about the best future for the country. In the decades that followed the Act of Union, political ideas developed along WHAT WAS THE ACT? lines we can still recognise today. Many Protestants came to see the Union as OF UNION? the best means of preserving the link with Britain and defending their social, economic and religious privileges within Ireland. As Catholic influence began The Act of Union was to develop within Ireland, Protestants came to fear that they would be at a passed in 1800 as a ? disadvantage in a Catholic-dominated Irish Parliament. During the same period, result of the United Catholics gradually came to oppose the Union with Britain, but disagreed about Irishmen’s rebellion of the way forward. 1798. It abolished the Irish Parliament and created the new “United Kingdom of wanted to reform the Union. They sought CONSTITUTIONAL Great Britain and Ireland”. self-government for Ireland, within the Union, NATIONALISTS through peaceful means. REVOLUTIONARY believed in an independent republic – achieved, NATIONALISTS if necessary, by force. 1.))) DISCUSSION Compare the ideas and objectives of all these Both Unionism and Nationalism developed after the Act of Union in response groups – Unionists, to the increasing assertiveness of Catholics and their growing demands for self- Nationalists, Trade government. Unionists, Women, Meanwhile, some political movements were formed around other concerns: Socialists – to those of the present day. Are there any • trade-unionists demanded more rights and improved pay and conditions similarities? Differences? for workers; How much has changed? • women campaigned for the vote and greater equality with men; Remained the same? • socialists sought to improve living conditions for ordinary people through both democratic and revolutionary means. www.nervecentre.org/teachingdividedhistories MODULE 4: LESSON 1: KEY INFORMATION 11 MODULE 4. THE EASTER RISING 1: BEFORE THE REVOLUTION THE HOME RULE CRISIS The 1916 Easter Rising would have been unthinkable was it not for two sudden and unpredictable events: the Home Rule Crisis and the Great War. THREE GROUPS ABOUT TO CLASH: THE IPP, THE ULSTER UNIONISTS, AND THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT WHO? HOME RULE? The Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) The IPP had one major goal: Home was formed in 1882 Its Members of Rule. This would grant Ireland a Parliament (MPs) sat at the House of limited form of self-government Commons at Westminster and it was within the United Kingdom state led by John Redmond from 1900. (similar to the powers exercised by the present-day Northern Irish executive). The party was made up of Irish nationalist MPs. The Ulster Unionist Council was Unionism was opposed to Home formed in 1905 as a kind of Ulster Rule as it meant a Dublin parliament Parliament for Unionism. which was a threat to their cultural identity and to the Union. Under the Act of Union 1800 the The Liberal Party (the largest party United Kingdom of Great Britain in Westminster) was sympathetic to and Ireland was formed. The British the Irish Party’s campaign for Home Parliament was based in Westminster, Rule. It had already introduced two London and made all governing Home Rule Bills - in 1886 and 1893 decisions for Great Britain and – but both were rejected at various Ireland. points in the parliamentary process. In 1905, the formation of the Ulster Unionist Council showed how unionism was becoming more democratic, more popular amongst ordinary people and more rooted in Ulster. Unionism also became more militant and sectarian as popular organisations like the Orange Order became a more important part of the movement. There were instances of discrimination against Catholics in Ulster; for example, Catholic workers were expelled from the Belfast shipyards during periods of political crisis. Outbreaks of violence were a feature of both the city and rural Ulster due to sectarian tensions and competition for jobs Top: John and resources. Redmond, leader of the IPP // Bottom: In 1911 the Liberal Party needed the support of the IPP to form a new government in Sir Edward Carson, Westminster. Home Rule was seen as the best way to win that support. As a result, the third leader of the Ulster Home Rule Bill was introduced in 1912. Unionist Party (1910-21) 12 MODULE 4: LESSON 1: KEY INFORMATION www.nervecentre.org/teachingdividedhistories MODULE 4. THE EASTER RISING 1: BEFORE THE REVOLUTION THE HOME RULE CRISIS: UNIONIST OPPOSITION 2.))) DISCUSSION It now looked as though the Irish Party would finally achieve its goal of Home Rule. In response, the Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) began a strong campaign to oppose what they Why did the idea of described as “Rome Rule”. Although Home Rule was a modest political reform, unionists Home Rule cause so much feared losing their economic and social privileges, their sense of identity as part of the concern among Unionists British Empire and their religious liberty. in Ulster? The UUC was led by Edward Carson and James Craig. Although born in Dublin, Carson, a barrister, became the great figurehead of Ulster Unionist resistance to Home Rule. Craig, a Belfast stockbroker and veteran of the Boer War, played an important organisational role. The two leaders formed a tough political partnership and together they developed a strong unionist movement which involved many people from all walks of life. Their goal was to force the British government to drop the Home Rule bill altogether or, if that failed, to force it to exclude Ulster from the bill. They also worked with the Conservatives (who formed the opposition to the Liberals) in Britain to force the Liberal government from power. If these strategies failed, the Ulster Unionists were determined to prevent the implementation of Home Rule by violent means. UNIONIST RESISTANCE The high-point of the UUC campaign The UUC mobilised against Home against Home Rule was Ulster Day Rule in other ways, too. They set on 28 September 1912. The UUC up a provisional government which organised a mass demonstration in made preparations to take over in Belfast, where Carson became the Ulster once Home Rule was passed. I first to sign the ‘Ulster Covenant’ They also created a military council N O (the Solemn League and Covenant). to raise an armed resistance force. In PR The Covenant was also signed by January, 1913, the Ulster Volunteer members of the public: across Ulster, Force (UVF) was created as a citizen 237,368 men signed the Covenant, militia.