History The Irish War Of Independence Questions
The outbreak of the Irish Civil War was primarily caused by the disagreement over the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which was signed in December 1921. The treaty established the Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire, but it also required an oath of allegiance to the British Crown and allowed for the partition of Ireland. This division led to a deep division among Irish nationalists, with some supporting the treaty and others opposing it. The anti-treaty forces, led by Eamon de Valera, believed that the treaty did not go far enough in achieving full independence for Ireland and that it compromised Irish sovereignty. The pro-treaty forces, led by Michael Collins, argued that the treaty was a stepping stone towards complete independence and that it provided a practical solution to end the conflict. The disagreement over the treaty eventually escalated into a full-scale civil war, which lasted from June 1922 to May 1923.