The Easter rising

Résumé du document

Methodology: I have partly based my researches on an on-line exhibition of the National library of Ireland and on the BBC web site, which provides very interesting material. I thus hope that the perspective of the document, will not be biased (the National library material comes mainly from nationalist sources, but they tried to be as neutral as possible in their comments).
Introduction:
Previous risings in Ireland: On Easter 1916, hundreds of Irish Volunteers and members of the citizen army assembled at liberty hall, Dublin, and then marched over different places in the city. This was the beginning of the Dublin 1916 rising, which was to remain in Irish history as one of the most important steps of Irish path to independence. This was however a failure, as were many previous attempts. Some of the other notable events were: Theobald Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen in 1798, Robert Emmet in 1803, The Young Irelanders in 1848 and the Fenians in 1865-67. Each of them plotted or rose up in rebellion. None of them was successful however, as they stood against a powerful empire whose military resources were not to be defeated. What could have made the difference in 1916, and make the leaders of the insurrection successful? It is necessary to understand the political and cultural background, as well as the views and interests of the actors involved.

Extraits

[...] The breaking out of the war in 1914 For some nationalist the war appeared as a good opportunity to take advantage of British weakness and vulnerability, due to the engagement of its military forces on the continent. In August 1914, the Irish Republican Brotherhood decided to stage an insurrection at the next opportune moment. The idea is that the maxim of England's difficulty is Ireland's opportunity. It has to be said that the nationalist insurrection partly relied on German assistance, especially in arms supply. [...]

[...] It was totally legal though, since it has been authorized by two magistrates. - As a reaction, nationalists established their own armed force: The Irish Volunteers, led by Eoin MacNeill, as well as a women's auxiliary force. Redmond feared that their actions would hinder the progress of the home rule bill: in June 1914, he secured the organization by having the Irish Parliamentary Party well represented on its provisional committee. But nationalists see the Volunteers as an opportunity to set a revolutionary army. ? [...]

[...] All of them were released within a relatively short period, the last in June 1917. Conclusion This rising was a failure for the nationalist movement as they did not achieve their aim of independence nor the rising up of a major popular movement in the Country. But it played an important role in the building of a consistent political movement. In collective memory, the rising of 1916 remains as an example both of the British violence and of the courage of Irish nationalists. [...]

[...] Involved in the war in Europe, they were not expected the Irish to take advantage of this weakness. The government enforced martial law, reinforces the army in Dublin and deployed heavy artillery against the Republican strongholds. A British military, General Maxwell, was sent to Dublin to assume overall command. He decided to take a hard line with the leaders of the Rising. Taking into account the German connection, the destruction of property and the will to discourage any action in the future, he was decided not to prove any weakness. [...]

[...] Military preparation In May 1915 the Irish Republican Brotherhood established a military committee: Patrick Pearse, Joseph Plunkett and Eamonn Ceannt. It was particularly concerned with providing arms. Some gun running took place in Howth, county Dublin and in Dublin in the weeks preceding. Roger Casement was supporting an alliance with Germany to acquire arms . It was based on three requests: arms, German officers to lead an insurrection in Dublin, and the formation of an Irish brigade constituted of war prisoners. [...]