FIANNA FAIL GOVT 193239 3 RD YR

FIANNA FAIL GOVT 193239 3 RD YR

Intro • • • Dev had been in charge of anti-treaty SF They refused to take their seats in Dail Why? Oath of allegiance But Dev wanted to enter parliament during 20 s • Other SF refused • So Dev and Sean Lemass left SF • Set up a new party – Fianna Fail

1932 Election • • • Cumann na n. Gaedhael were unpopular Seen as rich farmers’ party Hadn’t improved industry Hadn’t helped the poor in urban areas Economy still weak

FF election promises • FF promised to change all that 1. Promised to destroy the Treaty 2. Promised to build houses for poor people 3. and improve pensions 4. promised to improve economy by developing industry • FF won election

Dismantling the treaty • Dev could do this becoz of 1931 Statute of Westminster 1. got rid of oath of allegiance 2. insulted the king’s representative • . . . so much that he resigned! • The post was abolished 3. removed the king as head of state

1937 Bunreacht na h. Eireann • becoz of these changes, we needed new constitution • produced in 1937 • main terms: 1. Free state renamed Ireland (Eire) • 2. head of state was president • 3. head of govt was taoiseach • 4. articles 2 + 3 claimed control of all of Ireland • Articles 2+3 angered Northern Ireland

Economic War • Irish govt had to pay land annuities to Br • Repayment of loans from 1800 s to buy back land • Dev stopped paying these annuities in 1932 • Why? • The land had been ours in the first place • This caused an ‘economic war’ with Br

British response • Br angry – put a tariff on irish agric exports • Most of irish exports went to Br • . . so this was a disaster • Dev responded by putting tariff on all Br imports

Result of Economic War • • More tensions between Ireland Br Both countries suffered economically Irish farmers were v poor now Br needed a compromise in 1938 – why? Knew war was coming Wanted allies So offered a truce

Anglo-Irish Agreement • Ended the economic war in 1938 1. land annuities abolished – one-off payment of £ 10 mill 2. Both sides reduced their tariffs 3. the three ‘treaty’ ports were returned to Ireland • 3 rd pt crucial – allowed us to remain neutral in WW 2 • how? • If Br owed 3 ports in WW 2. . . • . . Germany would have attacked us

Economic Policy • dev pursued a policy of ‘Protectionism’ • meant putting a tariff on foreign imports • made them more expensive than irish goods • made people want to buy irish goods • lemass made minister for industry • opened many new factories • trying to make Ireland more industrial.

Social policy • • FF had promised to help the poor Gave unemployment assistance New pensions set up Many houses built in slums in Dublin

Law and order • FF had released many IRA prisoners • They now began to harass C na G meetings • 1933 Eoin O’Duffy set up National Guard • aim – to protect C na G from IRA. • Nickname ‘Blueshirts’

Blueshirts • O’Duffy loved fascism • Organised the National Guard like a fascist group • Had the Fascist salute • 1933 – threatened a march on Dublin • about to take over govt? • and set up a dictatorship?

Result • Dev banned the march and the Blueshirts. • O’Duffy joined Cosgrave to form a new party • Called Fine Gael • Cosgrave afraid Dev might become dictator

Fine Gael • • O’Duffy was leader But he was a lunatic Blueshirts attacked Gardai He threatened to invade Northern Ireland • Cosgrave sacked him – became leader himself

The IRA • • Dev had close links to IRA – why? Been with them in the past But IRA was now illegal When they started bombing Britain in 1939. . • . . Dev had to take action. • IRA were threatening irish neutrality for war • Britain might invade us

Internment • So Dev introduced internment for IRA members • This means you’re arrested and jailed without trial • Over 500 arrested • Also allowed several prisoners to die • Showed that IRA violence would not be tolerated

FF successes • • • Dismantling the treaty 1937 Bunreacht na h. Eireann economic War improved pensions and social welfare for poor built many council houses Protectionism Lemass developed industry Defeated the Blueshirts Restrained the IRA