Irish Home Rule facts for kids
Irish Home Rule was a big idea for how Ireland could be governed. It meant Ireland would have its own government, but still be part of the United Kingdom. Before 1920, the British government ruled Ireland directly.
British politicians tried to pass laws for Home Rule in 1886, 1893, and 1912. But these laws never got enough votes to pass. People in Ireland had different ideas about Home Rule. Many Irish Nationalists wanted it, but Irish Unionists were against it.
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Early Attempts at Home Rule Laws
The first Home Rule law was proposed in 1886. The Liberal Party supported it, but it didn't pass in the House of Commons. Another law was tried in 1893. This one passed in the House of Commons, but not in the House of Lords.
William Gladstone, a very important politician, strongly supported both these attempts. He believed Ireland should have its own government.
The 1912 Home Rule Bill
A third Home Rule law was proposed in 1912. It also passed in the House of Commons, but not the House of Lords. This attempt caused a lot of anger, especially in Ulster, a part of Ireland.
In 1912, Unionists in Ulster signed a document called the Ulster Covenant. They promised to fight against Home Rule. They even formed their own army, called the Ulster Volunteers, to show how serious they were.
Different Ideas for Ireland's Future
While many Nationalists wanted Home Rule, some felt it wasn't enough. The political party Sinn Féin wanted Ireland to be completely separate from Great Britain. They wanted full independence.
Sinn Féin became very powerful around 1916. They even set up their own government in Dublin, called the Dáil Éireann. From 1919 to 1921, Irish Nationalists fought against the British government in the Irish War of Independence.
Home Rule and Irish Independence
In 1920, Britain passed a law that created two parliaments in Ireland. One was for Northern Ireland and one for Southern Ireland. This was a type of Home Rule. However, the parliament for Southern Ireland never actually met.
The war finally ended with the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. This treaty created the Irish Free State. The Irish Free State had its own separate government, but it still shared the same king as Britain. This was a big step towards Ireland becoming fully independent.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Cartoon: British Liberal Party politicians didn't like Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's idea of Irish Home Rule. Former Prime Minister Lord Rosebery (left) and future Prime Minister H. H. Asquith (right) thought Home Rule would make the Liberals lose votes.
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Anti-Home Rule cartoon from 1891. It suggests Home Rule would help rich "patriots" but hurt poor farmers.
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Charles Stewart Parnell speaking at a meeting.
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Gladstone at a debate about the Irish Home Rule Bill, April 8, 1886.
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Queensland Figaro and Punch magazine cover from March 16, 1889. It shows Irish Australians supporting Parnell's fight for Home Rule.
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The Home Rule Club in Kilkenny, started in 1894.
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A sticker made by people in Ulster who were against Irish Home Rule.
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See also
In Spanish: Home Rule (Irlanda) para niños
