'Home Rule was the most important issue in British politics before the First World War' How far do you agree?

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'Home Rule was the most important issue in British politics before the First World War' How far do you agree?

Advantages

  • 1910 Elections led to minority Liberal government, who had to be supported by the Irish Nationalists.
  • Irish nationalists asked for Home Rule Bill in return.
  • 1912 Home Rule Bill
  • HOWEVER, Home Rule emphasised the constitutional conflict between the Liberals & Irish Nationalists, the Tories and Irish Unionists, and the Lords. This grew to include Protestants in Ulster and the Army in Ireland.
  • See Curragh 'Mutinity' 1914.
  • Nearly led to an Irish Civil War: Ulster Volunteer Force (Against Home Rule) vs Irish Volunteers (For Home Rule)

Disadvantages

  • War on Poverty
  • Constitutional conflict between Liberals, Conservatives (& Liberal Unionists), Lords, Labour. This went on include the Nationalists come 1910.

Evaluation

Whilst Home Rule was somewhat prominent in the 1900s, it only became one of the most important issues in British politics from the 1910 elections onwards. This is due to the ongoing prominence of the liberal reforms and constitutional conflict of the 1900s.

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