FREE ESSAY ON EASTER RISING OF 1916

EASTER RISING OF 1916

The events of Easter Monday, the 24th of April, 1916 triggered a bloody confrontation that
would have important ramifications both for the Irish people and the British Empire. What
would later become known as the Easter Rising was an attempt to end British rule in
Ireland.
At the onset of the First World War in 1914 the Irish Home Rule Bill was suspended,
returning the Irish people to direct rule by the British government. This was viewed as a
slap in the face by many in Ireland. It became the primary source of tension between the
Royal Irish Constabulary, an armed police force appointed by the British Crown, and
opposing rebel groups. The Royal Irish Constabulary consisted of approximately 10,000
members throughout Ireland. Some 1,000 members were present in Dublin on Easter Monday.
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was the principal rebel group, forming the backbone of
the approximately 2,000 people who participated in the Easter Rising. Padraig Pearse and
James Connolly led the rebels in the armed confrontation to seize control of several
important buildings in Dublin. Among those were the General Post Office, the South Dublin
Union, St. Stephen's Green, and several train stations. Once control of Dublin was
achieved the rebels used the General Post Office as their headquarters. At nightfall on
the 24th rebels leaders signed a document declaring themselves as the provisional
government of the Irish Republic. British troops were called in the next day in an
attempt to force the rebels to surrender. A bloody standoff continued for the next week.
Much of Dublin, including the General Post Office, was burned primarily due to British
artillery shelling. Finally, on Saturday the 29th Padraig Pearse and James Connelly
surrendered ending the bloodshed. It is estimated that approximately 200 buildings were
destroyed. Over 500 casualties resulted and more than 400 of those were from the British
side. Fifteen rebels, including Pearse and Connelly, were sentenced to death by firing
squad. In addition, popular military leaders Michael Collins and Eamon DeValera were
sentenced to prison, solidifying strong opposition to British control by a majority of
the Irish people.
While the Easter Rising was a short-term disaster for the Irish rebels it laid the
groundwork for a movement that would lead to the formation of the Irish Free State in
1921. This was also the first of several steps that would lead cause the demise of the
once mighty British Empire.
Bibliography
Barton, Brian and Foy, Michael, The Easter Rising: Day by Day. Sutton Publishing, 2000.
Ireland History
http://www.weareone.org.uk/irelandhistory.htm
1916 The Easter Rising
http://users.bigpond.com/kirwilli/1916
The Easter Rising
http://shrike.depaul.edu/~sconneel/new6.html