UNIONIST OPPOSITION TO UNIONIST OPPOSITION TO HOME RULEHOME RULE

WHO?WHERE?WHY?WHAT?WHEN?END RESULT?

WHO and WHERE?WHO and WHERE?

MOSTLY PROTESTANTFELT SECURE BEING PART OF UKLEADERS – CARSON AND CRAIGLIVED MOSTLY IN NORTH EASTBIG BUSINESS MOSTLY UNIONISTSAW EMPIRE AS IMPORTANTHAD POWERFUL ALLIES IN

BRITAIN**

Andrew Bonar LawAndrew Bonar Law

The House of LordsThe House of Lords

KiplingKipling

WHY?WHY?

ECONOMIC REASON CRUCIALSAW BRITISH EMPIRE AS CRUCIAL

◦RAW MATERIALS◦BANKS FOR CREDIT◦MARKETS FOR PRODUCTS

Ship buildingShip building

Linen millsLinen mills

RELIGIOUS REASON◦FEARED DISCRIMINATION BY ROMAN

CATHOLICS◦SLOGAN WAS “HOME RULE IS ROME

RULE”◦FELT MORE SECURE AS PART OF UK

POLITICAL REASONFELT IRISH INCAPABLE OF

RULING THEMSELVESDUBLIN RULE = TOTAL POLITICAL

CHAOS

WHY did people in Britain WHY did people in Britain support the Unionistssupport the Unionists

SECURITY FEARPOLITICAL REASONECONOMIC TIESRELIGIOUS SYMPATHIES

Why Unionists were worried Why Unionists were worried in 1912in 1912

Liberal government in powerPowerful Home Rule party – 80+

MP’sLiberals needed support of HR PartyParliament Act had been passedMade Home Rule inevitableRedmond delighted – Carson

worried

How did Unionists resist How did Unionists resist Home RuleHome RuleOrganised speeches and ralliesGot support from ConservativesUsed newspapers, posters,

cartoonsOrganised the Ulster CovenantCreated UVF – imported GUNSReal danger of CIVIL WARPut forward idea of PARTITION

POSTCARD EXAMPLE

Outbreak of WWIOutbreak of WWI2 private armies in Ireland in 1914Special conference called by KingWar erupted in Summer 1914Redmond pledged Irish supportCarson pledged Unionist supportCarson and Craig joined War

cabinetHome Rule put on hold until end

war