The Easter Rising: Revolution and Irish Nationalism

by Alan J. Ward

Overview

In this innovative work, Alan Ward uses the pivotal event in twentieth-century Irish history as a prism through which to survey Irish history from the twelfth century to the present.

By asking why the Easter Rising occurred, Ward is able to review the history of Anglo-Irish relations, from the time of Norman settlement to World War I, as well as the development of several kinds of Irish nationalism in the nineteenth century. Then, by asking what the effects of the Rising have been, Ward discusses the Irish war of independence, the creation of the Irish Free State, and the Irish civil war, pondering the influence of the various strands of Irish nationalism on the modern state.

Finally, the book reviews the conflict in Northern Ireland from the 1960s all the way to the fall of 2002, making this distinctive and analysis ideal for use as a core text in Irish history or superb supplementary reading for survey courses in British, European, and World History.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780882959740
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	01/20/2003
Series:	European History Series
Edition description:	2
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.98(h) x 0.42(d)

About the Author

Alan J. Ward is the Class of 1935 Professor of Government at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He is a past president of the American Conference for Irish Studies and senior fellow in the Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast. His books on Irish history and government include Ireland and Anglo-American Relations, 1899-1921 (1969) and The Irish Constitutional Tradition: Responsible Government and Modern Ireland, 1782-1992 (1994).

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Chapter 1 The Easter Rising 1

Chapter 2 England and Ireland Before the Union of 1801 16

Chapter 3 Ireland and Irish Nationalism After the Union 31

Chapter 4 Constitutional Nationalism 41

Chapter 5 Romantic and Revolutionary Nationalism 55

Chapter 6 America and the Irish Problem 72

Chapter 7 Three Home Rule Bills and the Rise of Unionism 82

Chapter 8 The Constitutional Crisis of 1912-1914: Preparing for Rebellion 95

Chapter 9 World War I: Britain’s Weakness and Ireland’s Opportunity 104

Chapter 10 Sinn Fein Emerges 116

Chapter 11 A Victory for Revolutionary Nationalism 128

Chapter 12 The Effects of the Rising 147

Bibliography 175

Index 185