In 1920, the scent of gunpowder and smoke hung in the air. It was the War of Irish Independence. For more than a year, a group of Irish republicans, known as the IRA, had been battling British forces. Their goal was to separate from the United Kingdom (UK) and create an independent Ireland.
But after months of fighting, people longed for peace. The British government believed it had found a solution.
In 1921, the British split Ireland into two: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. The six counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone became Northern Ireland, while the rest of the island became Southern Ireland. Both parts were given more power to rule themselves, with the plan that the whole island would remain part of the UK. Many in the north accepted this decision—they wanted to stay in the UK. But in the south, most citizens ignored the plan. After centuries of discrimination under British rule, they wanted Ireland to be free.
The war continued.
Finally, in the summer of 1921, Irish and British forces laid down their weapons. They agreed to pause the fighting and find a solution.
It was a chilly December day in London. Michael Collins and the rest of the Irish delegation arrived at the UK prime minister’s office. After months of negotiations with the British government, they reached an agreement.
On December 6, 1921, both sides signed the Anglo–Irish Treaty. The Irishmen were not entirely happy with the treaty’s terms, but they hoped the agreement would bring peace. One of the delegates, Arthur Griffith, wrote a note to the press:
Under the treaty, Ireland would become the Irish Free State. It would have its own parliament to make its own laws. However, this parliament still had to swear an oath to the British Crown. The treaty also let Northern Ireland decide whether to join the Irish Free State or to remain part of the UK.
In the north, the Protestant majority chose to stay under British rule. The border between north and south remained. Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone became Northern Ireland, and the remaining 26 counties became the Irish Free State.
The Irish delegates returned home to an uproar. While some people agreed with their decision to sign the treaty, others felt they had given Ireland a bad deal. A deadly civil war broke out between the two sides.
Violence also erupted in Northern Ireland. One side fought for Irish independence, while the other fought to remain loyal to the UK.
In 1949, the Irish Free State finally cut ties with the British Crown and became the Republic of Ireland. To this day, Northern Ireland remains part of the UK.
Will Ireland ever unite? This is a question the people of Ireland continue to debate. For now, the island is home to two distinct countries with a shared and complex history.