Cumann na nGaedeal

Establishing the Free State

Origins
Sinn Fein split and the Pro-Treaty side became Cumann na nGaedheal while the Anti-Treaty side remained Sinn Fein

The British leave

This means all civil servants need to be reestablished. Tax must be re-established. Local Authorities must be re-established. Police must be re-established. Education must be re-established.

The New Government has limited Finances

What should they spend their money on? What do they have to waste their money on?

The Civil War

Threatens the new government Financially if they win Politically if they lose! A quick end to the Civil War is crucial Michael Collins is apprehensive about being militant with old comrades

22/8/1922
Michael Collins is assassinated in Beal na mBlath in West Cork. He is replaced by Kevin OHiggins who intends to take no more Prisoners of war! With the death of Liam Lynch who was leader of the Irregulars the Civil War came to a quick end. He had been hunted down by the Regular army in the Tipperary mountains.

After Collins Death

Cumann na nGaedheal was led by William T. Cosgrave who was Preseident of the Free State until 1932 Vice President was Kevin OHiggins

Challenges
to set up a new state to rebuild the economy after damage caused by the wars get normal political life started again (ie. Settling disputes through voting and discussion instead of violence)

Task 1: The Constitution

There would be a general election every five years All citizens over 21 ( both men and women) could vote for TDs to represent them in the Dail. The Dail elected the government, decided the taxes and made the laws

 Because of the treaty the head of the Free State had to be the king and all TDs had to take an oath of loyalty to him. All citizens were guaranteed freedom of religion and freedom of speech Only a referendum in which all of the people could vote would change the constitution

Task 2: Rebuilding the Economy

Main Irish industry was around Belfast which was now part of Northern Ireland Apart from the Guinness brewery and Jacobs biscuit factory Free States main industry was farming Exports of cattle, poultry and bacon to Britain paid for imports of coal, cotton, tea, etc.

 The farmers were encouraged to increase production so exports would increase Taxes were kept low to encourage businessmen to start industries Government did nothing for poor people or poor farmers. To keep taxes low it cut old age pensions and refused to build houses for those living in slums

 Henry Ford set up a car factory in Cork at this time

Task 3: Police force

An Garda Siocana set up by Kevin OHiggins in 1923 Public Safety Act 1923 permitted internment and flogging for crimes such as arson and armed robbery (more than 12,000 interned between 1923 and 1932). Courts of Justice Act introduced new court system to replace English system

Task 4: Education
Ordered that Irish be taught in schools but they failed to revive the language as it was not spoken in everyday business. Introduced Intermediate and Leaving Certificate and the education system changed little until the 1960s

Boundary Commission
3 man commission set up as part of the Anglo-Irish Treaty to decide on the boundary One Irishman, one Englishman and one South African judge (neutral?) Part of Donegal to be given to Northern Ireland with the Republic due to receive South Armagh and Fermanagh

 Irish delegate leaks report and Irish uproar results in Boundary being left as it is. Commissions failure is a major problem for the governments stability.

Army Mutiny
Government had an army of 60,000 during Civil war When the war ended they reduced the army by over a half due to the expenses Army threatened mutiny Eoin ODuffy (Garda Commissioner) was given command of the army.

 This forced Richard Mulcahy to resign. government promised that they would establish a pension scheme for the army. those who take the pay and wear the uniform of the State must be its nonpolitical servants Kevin OHiggins.

The establishment of Fianna Fail

De Valera refused to take his seat as an opposition TD in the Dail with the rest of Sinn Fein as they refused to take the oath to the king. this stopped him from getting to vote on important Dail decisions. De Valera said that he would take his seat if the oath was abolished

 Other hard line Sinn Feiners said that they would not enter even then. They would only enter if there was a Republic De Valera left Sinn Fein in disgust and set up Fianna Fail (the soldiers of destiny)

General Election 1927

Fianna Fail win 44 seats but Refuse to take seats as a result of the oath. A few weeks later the IRA murdered Kevin OHiggins and Cosgrave said that any TDs refusing to take the oath would lose his seat. De Valera and Fianna Fail TDs swallowed their pride and took up their seats. Normal Politics had commenced.