Essay: Reasons for the rise of Sinn Fein
1. Sinn Fein strengths and summary: MAXIMISED FAVOURABLE
CIRCUMSTANCES,
POPULAR POLICIES
-monopolisation of Easter Rising/British mistakes
-Irish convention
-conscription
-mansion house
-manifesto
-electoral tactics
2. Monopolisation of Easter Rising/British mistakes: Had profited from the Easter
Rising being dubbed a Sinn Fein Rebellion. Anti-british feelings caused by the
brutal executions turned public derision into sympathy.
Advancement of awareness of Nationalism boosted cause.
Allowed themselves to be arrested to maximise sympathy.
Death of Thomas Ashe in September 1917 created another martyr.
3. Irish Convention: Opposed the convention as they refused to accept any kind of
partition. This consistency and integrity was admirable, and their absence from the
convention greatly weakened it.
4. Conscription: Emerged as the committed, leading voice against conscription.
5. Mansion House: 18th April 1918: All elements of Nationalism met and DeValera
drafted a pledge against conscription, vindicating their steadfast anti-war status.
This was endorsed by the Catholic Church and a document against conscription was
signed after mass. Formed Committees of Defence in each parish.
Irish Trade Union Congress held a general strike on the 26th
Clerical misgivings of the party's questionable constitutionality gave way. The
support
of the Catholic Church gave the movement respectability. Intervention of Dublin
Archbishop in the South Longford by-election.
6. Manifesto: DeValera was elected as leader in the October 1917 Ard Fheis.
Devised a deliberately ambiguous and idealistic 4-point manifesto to attract those
disillusioned with the IPP. Romantic notion of a United Ireland was hugely popular.
Economic arguments secondary to emotional ones.
Promised to abstain from Westminster and resist British forces with a policy of
passive resistance. By demonstrating their commitment to refusing to cooperate with
the imperial British and take matters into their own hands they grew in popularity.
7. Electoral tactics: Effective organisation of the "Put him in to get him out
campaign"
beginning with Griffith in East Cavan by-election. In 1918 33 SF members
elected from prison.
DeValera won by a huge margin of over 3,000 votes in an East Clare by-election.
Volunteers played a key role, guarding election sites to intimidate voters. Candidates
were threatened to withdraw. There was also electoral fraud, with several vote totals
exceeding constituency populations.
United separatist elements under an umbrella movement. Won 6 by-election seats
from 1916-1918.
By the end of 1918, SF had 1354 clubs across the country
In 1918, they won 73 seats, a huge majority.
1. Sinn Fein strengths and summary: MAXIMISED FAVOURABLE
CIRCUMSTANCES,
POPULAR POLICIES
-monopolisation of Easter Rising/British mistakes
-Irish convention
-conscription
-mansion house
-manifesto
-electoral tactics
2. Monopolisation of Easter Rising/British mistakes: Had profited from the Easter
Rising being dubbed a Sinn Fein Rebellion. Anti-british feelings caused by the
brutal executions turned public derision into sympathy.
Advancement of awareness of Nationalism boosted cause.
Allowed themselves to be arrested to maximise sympathy.
Death of Thomas Ashe in September 1917 created another martyr.
3. Irish Convention: Opposed the convention as they refused to accept any kind of
partition. This consistency and integrity was admirable, and their absence from the
convention greatly weakened it.
4. Conscription: Emerged as the committed, leading voice against conscription.
5. Mansion House: 18th April 1918: All elements of Nationalism met and DeValera
drafted a pledge against conscription, vindicating their steadfast anti-war status.
This was endorsed by the Catholic Church and a document against conscription was
signed after mass. Formed Committees of Defence in each parish.
Irish Trade Union Congress held a general strike on the 26th
Clerical misgivings of the party's questionable constitutionality gave way. The
support
of the Catholic Church gave the movement respectability. Intervention of Dublin
Archbishop in the South Longford by-election.
6. Manifesto: DeValera was elected as leader in the October 1917 Ard Fheis.
Devised a deliberately ambiguous and idealistic 4-point manifesto to attract those
disillusioned with the IPP. Romantic notion of a United Ireland was hugely popular.
Economic arguments secondary to emotional ones.
Promised to abstain from Westminster and resist British forces with a policy of
passive resistance. By demonstrating their commitment to refusing to cooperate with
the imperial British and take matters into their own hands they grew in popularity.
7. Electoral tactics: Effective organisation of the "Put him in to get him out
campaign"
beginning with Griffith in East Cavan by-election. In 1918 33 SF members
elected from prison.
DeValera won by a huge margin of over 3,000 votes in an East Clare by-election.
Volunteers played a key role, guarding election sites to intimidate voters. Candidates
were threatened to withdraw. There was also electoral fraud, with several vote totals
exceeding constituency populations.
United separatist elements under an umbrella movement. Won 6 by-election seats
from 1916-1918.
By the end of 1918, SF had 1354 clubs across the country
In 1918, they won 73 seats, a huge majority.
