Proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic

Questions for Further Study

• 1.: Many of the key events in world history have to do with nations' aspirations for independence. Compare the proclamation and the events surrounding it with one or more similar assertions of independence. Possible documents include the Cartagena Manifesto, the Treaty of Córdoba, the Dutch Declaration of Independence, the Korean Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of Haiti.
• 2.: England maintained colonies in the New World. One group of those colonies, which would form the nation of Canada, broke with England in a manner that was nearly entirely peaceful and succeeded in becoming an independent nation. Why was Canada's break, as reflected in the events surrounding the Constitution Act of Canada, so “clean,” while that of Ireland was accompanied by turmoil and continued violence?
• 3.: Define the concept of Home Rule. Why did some people in Ireland support Home Rule while others opposed it? How would the modern history of Ireland have been different if the dispute had not arisen and the Irish people had largely supported either Home Rule or complete independence?
• 4.: For hundreds of years, religion had played a major role in political disputes throughout Europe, often leading to armed conflict. What role did religion play in the events before and after the proclamation?
• 5.: Still in the twenty-first century, Ireland remains divided. Why?