Intro: the controversial Anglo-Irish Treaty led in large part to a bloody Civil War. To understand the extent to which the Treaty was responsible for the outbreak of war, we must first analyse the atmosphere at the time as well as what made the Treaty so divisive and how these and other issues resulted in the violent fallout.
P1. Not only cause. SF made up of many different groups. Dev and DLG preliminary talks demonstrated that full independence and Ireland outside of the commonwealth/empire was not acceptable, (explain conservative majority in gov) thus some sort of compromise was necessary and this wasn't acceptable to hardliners eg stack and brugha. thus it could be argued that even before the Treaty talks began, Civil War was inevitable because of the complexities of the situation and the attitudes of hardliners.
P2. controversy surrounding the Irish delegation. DeV not going. reasons. reference historians - Ronan Fanning and Tim Pat Coogan. Led to view could have got more. This exacerbated the divisiveness of the Treaty, led to split in cabinet and lack of trust, eg childers DeV's spy.
P3. The instructions and title of the delegation would also lead to increased divisions that contributed to civil war. Penitentiaries but had to report back to dublin. Details of last cabinet meeting in dublin. signing under treat of immediate and terrible war. reaction to signing from DeV, Stack and Brugha. Raised in Dail debates, been duped, could have brought back more.
P4. The terms of the treaty. views of the anti-treaty side, esp. oath, ports. few mentioned the north. unacceptable to hardliners.
P5. The Dáil debates, nasty and personal. impact of Christmas and changes of heart after talking to the people. outcome of the vote.
P6. The actions of Eamon De Valera. split of SF. Speeches, "through rivers of blood".
P7. Divisions amongst the IRA. Army convention. taking over of barracks around the country.
P8. Anti-treaty IRA take over the four courts and other buildings. Failure to address this immediately - explain and comment from book about how swift action may have led to an alternative to civil war.
P9. Efforts at compromise. DeV-Collins pact, explain reason for it. explain new constitution and why Collins broke the pact. How this led to resentment and anger, DeV didn't think people understood what the they voted for. outcome of election.
P10. After election Collins felt he had people's backing to act against anti-treaty. The immediate causes of the civil war. execution of Wilson and capture of JJ O'Connell. British threaten action if prov gov don't.
Conclusion: The blame for the violence does not lie squarely with the Anglo-Irish Treaty, though it was the primary cause. SF was a divided organisation. The actions of Eamon De Valera, the controversies surrounding the Irish delegation as well as divisions among the IRA and the attitude of hardline republicans also played a part.
