Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil Vote

Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil Vote

The Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil Vote refers to the pivotal decision made by the Dáil Éireann, the revolutionary parliament of the Irish Republic, on January 7, 1922. This vote was on the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which had been signed by representatives of the British government and Irish plenipotentiaries on December 6, 1921. The treaty aimed to end the Irish War of Independence and establish the Irish Free State, a self-governing dominion within the British Empire, significantly altering the political landscape of Ireland.

Background

The Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) was a guerrilla conflict between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British forces. In response to the escalating violence and political pressure, both sides agreed to a truce in July 1921, leading to negotiations between Irish representatives and the British government. The resulting Anglo-Irish Treaty sparked intense debate within Ireland, as it did not grant full independence and required members of the Dáil to swear an oath of allegiance to the British monarch.

The Treaty

The main provisions of the Anglo-Irish Treaty included the creation of the Irish Free State as a dominion of the British Commonwealth, similar in status to Canada. It also stipulated the partition of Ireland, with six counties in the north forming Northern Ireland, which could opt out of the Irish Free State, a provision that was immediately exercised. The treaty was seen by some as a betrayal of the 1916 Easter Rising and the republic declared in 1919, while others viewed it as a pragmatic step towards full independence.

Debate and Vote

The Dáil debates on the treaty were intense and emotional, reflecting the deep divisions within the Irish nationalist movement. Key figures, including Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith, argued in favor of the treaty, seeing it as the best achievable compromise. In contrast, Éamon de Valera and other republicans opposed the treaty, arguing that it failed to establish a fully independent republic and perpetuated British influence in Ireland.

On January 7, 1922, after weeks of debate, the Dáil voted to ratify the Anglo-Irish Treaty by a narrow margin of 64 votes to 57. This decision led to the resignation of Éamon de Valera as President of the Dáil and the split of the Sinn Féin party into pro-treaty and anti-treaty factions.

Aftermath

The ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty led directly to the Irish Civil War (1922-1923), a bitter conflict between pro-treaty forces, who supported the establishment of the Irish Free State, and anti-treaty forces, who fought to establish a republic. The civil war resulted in significant loss of life and ended with the defeat of the anti-treaty forces. The Irish Free State was officially established on December 6, 1922, marking a significant milestone in Ireland's path to full independence, which was achieved in 1949 with the declaration of the Republic of Ireland.

See Also

• Michael Collins
• Éamon de Valera
• Irish War of Independence
• Irish Civil War
• History of Ireland