HOME+RULE+BILL+3+1912-1914

Introduction: There was a huge opposition from unionists towards the 3rd home rule bill between 1912 and 1914 because of political economic and religious reasons, So much so that it almost led to civil war. __The main topics__ which I will discuss are the bill its self, unionist reaction, U.V.F & conservative alliance, national reaction& British apathy and finally the solutions which were talked about. __The back round__ to the 3rd home rile bill is that many Irish people wanted home rule because they felt they would be better of with a parliament in Dublin running Irish affairs, unionists did not share this opinion. The conservative party supported the unionists, fearing home rule would lead to the break up of the empire. The liberals were in power in England at the time lead by Asquith, they needed support from home rule party and Redmond they got this in return for getting the home rule bill through. The parliament act1911 meant that the House of Lords had to pass the bill the third time.
 * 1. ****__Why was there opposition to the third home rule bill between 1912 and 1914__**

Paragraph 1: The bill it’s self __The bill its self introduced on the 3rd of April 1912 was the reason for unionist opposition because of its content which included:__ - a parliament in Ireland had control over internal affairs/English control of external affairs e.g. Defence, war, customs ect/42 MPs would sit in west Minster from Ireland/queen or king would still be head of Ireland and Britain. __Passed in House of Commons, blocked in House of Lords, due to come 1914, opposition now began from unionist__s. Paragraph 2: Unionist reaction __Up to this time unionists could rely on the conservative dominated House of Lords to stop home rule but they now had to find other methods such as:__ -unionist demonstrations in 1912 headed by Craig, Carson and the Ulster unionist council/28th of September 1912 400,000 men signed the solemn league and covenant/woman signed separate document/some signed in blood to go against home rule “by all means which may be fond necessary”/Southern unionists published pamphlets to turn public opinion.Unionist feared home rule for political (loyal to the king), economic (needed Britain’s raw materials and more industrial) and religious (feared home rule would mean Rome rule) __Asquith’s ignorance towards unionists worsened the situation’s violence seemed more and more likely.__ Paragraph 3: U.V.F & conservative alliance __Opposition was increasing from unionist side due to being ignored; this pushed them towards a more threatening approach.__ -Ulster volunteer force was set up a military group would physically stop home rule/trained by general Richardson/had 100,000 members by 1914.allowed to do so because of justice of the peace-old law/ needed arms got them from Larne gun running,from Germany,25,000 rifles plus ammo. -conservatives encouraged them with the alliance they wanted unionist vote in turn for support, Andrew boner law, big supporter. __Physical battle was now becoming a major threat to home rule__ Paragraph 4: Nationalist reaction & British apathy. __As unionists were opposing home rule through an armed opposition, home rulers felt they should do the same__ -Eoin Mac Neil(Gaelic league)wrote in “an claidheamh solais”asking to fight,I.R.B encouraged him./3000 turned up at his meeting/Irish volunteers founded/by 1914 had 180000 members/cumman na mban set up for woman/ Howth gun running a success/British failed to stop it, opened fire on crowd shot 3. Asquith and Redmond believed Craig was bluffing and would never invade the south. Asquith ignored Carson and Carson as they only had 19 seats in parliament and couldn't out vote his homerule/liberal alliance. As 1913 went on Asquith started to panis as no spy infromation was coming from Ulster. Lloyd George his Minister for Finance suggested secret meetings with Carson and Craig and it was here that the idea of partition was suggested. __Two armed forces now faced each other, it looked very like civil war was around the corner, no decision from asquith.__ Paragraph 5: Solutions __Opposition to home rule was huge many solutions were talked about such as:__ -British ordered curragh to disarm unionists, failed led to curragh mutiny/county option i.e. every county in north could vote on home rule, no agreement/home rule within home rule, no agreement/6 counties outside of home rule for 6 years, no agreement/august 1914 invited by King George to Buckingham palace, no agreement. __September 1914 home rule postponed for ww1.__ Conclusion: opposition to home rule was huge, so much so it almost led to civil war. Opposition from unionists would not give in to afraid of loosing economic religious and political ties with Britain__. I think__ the main reason for opposition to home rule was because of religious reasons, Craig & Carson very anti catholic and feared home rule would mean Rome rule, it is ironic how they later took the parliament. __This led to__ 1000s fought for home rule during ww1,Home rule was never passed after the war, people lost faith in it and turned to wanting complete independence started by 1916 rising and eventually the war of independence