Anti-Conscription Campaign and Decline of Moderate Nationalism

This page delves deeper into the anti-conscription campaign in Ireland during World War I and its impact on the nationalist movement. The campaign against conscription played a crucial role in uniting various factions of Irish society and shifting support towards more radical nationalist groups.

The anti-conscription movement gained significant traction in Ireland, with the Anti-Conscription Committee and the Catholic Church mobilizing over 2 million people to oppose forced military service. This campaign pushed support towards Sinn Féin, the only party that openly opposed conscription.

Highlight: Nationwide anti-conscription rallies and a general strike on April 23, 1918, demonstrated the strength and unity of the movement.

The British government's actions in response to the anti-conscription campaign further alienated the Irish public, more so than the actions of the committee itself. This shift in public sentiment contributed to the decline of moderate nationalist parties and the rise of more radical groups advocating for complete independence.

Example: The ongoing war and the threat of conscription angered many Irish people who felt they were being asked to fight for Britain while their own demands for Home Rule were not being met.

The decline of the Irish Parliamentary Party, which had previously dominated Irish politics with its moderate nationalist stance, was accelerated by these events. The party's support for the war effort and its inability to secure Home Rule implementation during the conflict led many Irish people to view it as ineffective.

Definition: Conscription - The mandatory enlistment of people into national service, typically military service.

As the war progressed, the Irish public became increasingly disillusioned with British rule and more supportive of full independence. The anti-conscription campaign played a significant role in uniting various communities and strengthening the resolve for self-determination.

Quote: "Irish people didn't want to help Britain as not helping them."

This shift in public opinion and the decline of moderate nationalism set the stage for the rise of Sinn Féin and the eventual Irish War of Independence, which would follow the end of World War I.