As tensions escalated between the pro-treaty and anti-treaty forces in early 1922, but conflict was avoided when Michael Collins and Eamon De Valera made a pact to reunite the Sinn Fein. In June 1922, the first elections were held in the Irish Free State. The Pact made by Collins and De Valera was broken down when the British Monarch was included in the Constitution of the Irish Free State. Michael Collins' Sinn Feinn won a majority of the seats in Parliament. |
War drew closer to inevitability once retired British General, Henry Wilson, was killed by two IRA men. The British blamed the IRA group that was in the Four Courts, and they told Collins that they would attack it with the six thousand British troops still stationed in Dublin if he did not. The Four Courts were occupied by an anti-treaty garrison led by Rory O'Connor. Despite Collins giving the anti-treaty forces more time to surrender, they stood their ground and pro-treaty forces opened fire on the Four Courts. The assault was conducted with British artillery on June 28, 1922. This caused IRA units around the country to take up arms and pick sides. Most of the people, especially in the southern counties, sided with anti-treaty forces. Eamon De Valera set up an opposing government to the free state in October 1922. |
During a campaign through the south in places that were "taken back" by the Free State, Michael Collins was assassinated at Beal na Blath by anti-treaty forces. By Spring time 1923, The Republican forces impact had been reduced to destruction of property. After the anti-treaty IRA leader, Liam Lynch, was killed in action, his successor Frank Aiken ordered a dumping of arms. He ordered a ceasefire and for everyone to return home. An election was held in August 1923 that the pro-treaty party won. They went under the name Cumman na nGaedheal. Many Republican candiates, despite being able to participate, were still imprisoned. Two-Thirds of the twelve thousand anti-treaty prisoners went on hunger strikes on November of 1923. They would not be released until the middle of 1924. The civil war left the nationalist parties of Ireland very polarized and embittered, and created much political conflict for years to come. |