This book explores the political and ideological developments that resulted in the establishment of two separate states on the island of Ireland: the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. It examines how this radical transformation took place, including how British Liberals and Unionists were as influential in the two-state solution as any Irish party. The book analyzes transformative events including the third home rule crisis, partition and the creation of Northern Ireland, and the Irish Free States establishment through the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The policies and priorities of major figures such as H.H. Asquith, David Lloyd George, John Redmond, Eamon de Valera, Edward Carson, and James Craig receive prominent attention, as do lesser-known events and organizations like the Irish Convention and Irish Dominion League. The work outlines many possible solutions to Britains Irish question, and discusses why some settlement ideas were adopted and others discarded. Analyzing public discourse and archival sources, this monograph offers new perspectives on the Irish Revolution, highlighting in particular the tension between public rhetoric and private opinion.
1 Introduction.- 2 The Hollowest Political Cant: British Parties, Home
Rule, and the Parliament Act, Dec. 1909-July 1911.- 3 Prepared to Make Great
Sacrifices: Reactions to Home Rule, July 1911-1914.- 4 A Settlement Nobody
Wants: Exclusion Gains Ground, 1913-1914.- 5 Home Rule during a World War:
The Lloyd George Proposals and the Irish Convention, 1915-1918.- 6 Rickety
Parliaments: Dominion Home Rule and the Government of Ireland Act, 1919-July
1921.- 7 Terrible Finality: The Treaty, the Constitution, and the Boundary
Commission, 1921-1925.- 8 Postscript and Conclusions: Consequences of the
Irish Settlement.
M. C. Rast has a PhD in History from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. His research interests include Ireland, Britain, the British Empire, military history, and political theory.
