The Easter Rising in History and Cinematography

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Table of Contents

The Easter Rising
The Onset
The Rebellion
Consequences
Legacy
Cinematography
References

The Easter Rising

The Easter Rising is among the most significant events in Irish history, illustrating the fight for autonomy and freedom. In 1916, from April 24th to April 29th, Dublin and several other locations around the nation witnessed the Easter Rising (Library of Congress, n.d.). A prompt British military reaction put down an Irish uprising against British authority. While the United Kingdom was engaged in the First World War, Irish revolutionaries staged Easter Rising in an effort to overthrow British control of Irish territory and create an autonomous Irish Republic (Library of Congress, n.d.). The rebellion was eventually considered unsuccessful as a military operation. Yet, it left behind a significant legacy because the British reaction to the incident led most Irish people to reject the notion of self-government and embrace the notion of an entirely independent Irish Republic.

The Onset

The causes of the Easter Rising date back centuries prior to the event. Ireland, the territory that had been subject to British rule since the twelfth century, combined with Britain to become the United Kingdom with the Acts of Union at the beginning of the 18th century (Grayson, 2018). Ireland, as a consequence, forfeited its government in Dublin and came under the rule of Westminster in London. Irish revolutionary organizations challenged this system to varying degrees during the late 1800s (Grayson, 2018). Independence, which would allow Ireland to continue to be a member of the U.K. while additionally having some measure of autonomy, was supported by some conservative nationalists. Prior to one ultimately being passed in 1914, many independence initiatives were not considered in Parliament in the 19th century (Grayson, 2018). Nevertheless, due to the start of World War I, independence adoption was temporarily put on hold.

During this time, the Easter Rising was being planned by supporters of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a clandestine resistance movement who thought full independence would not be fully implemented and ultimately demanded full autonomy for Ireland. Revolutionaries believed that Germany, which was at war with the United Kingdom at the time, would help their uprising militarily. Irish Republican Roger Casement organized a supply of German ammunition and weaponry for the supporters of the rebellion (Grayson, 2018). However, prior to the beginning of the revolution, the British authorities discovered the plan and its leaders. Casement was sentenced to execution by death in August 1916 after being accused of treason (Grayson, 2018). Still, the revolution took place, and a series of events made it an uprising with much bloodshed.

The Rebellion

The Easter Rising was supposed to occur throughout Ireland, but due to a number of factors, it was primarily conducted in Dublin. In 1916, more specifically, on May 24th, the insurgent commanders and their supporters took control of the central post office as well as other important buildings in the location (National Army Museum, n.d.). The leader of the coup, Patrick Pearse, delivered a proclamation stating that Ireland was now a republic and announcing the appointment of a temporary government consisting of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, standing in front of the occupied postal office (National Army Museum, n.d.). However, the locals did not rally to help the revolutionaries despite the insurgents’ aspirations. The rebellious supporters were seized by the state forces deployed against them within several days after the British government swiftly proclaimed a state of emergency in Ireland.

The unrest and bloodshed, which further greatly damaged Dublin’s center, resulted in the deaths. Over 450 persons were killed, and over 2,000 civilians had injuries (National Army Museum, n.d.). In the following days, the British state prosecuted and executed Pearse along with 14 additional leaders of the rebellion (National Army Museum, n.d.). Despite the fact that the majority of Irish citizens had opposed the insurrection, these murders sparked a surge of indignation at the British government and elevated the deceased uprising leaders to the status of martyrs. The Easter Rising marked the beginning of Ireland’s republican movement. Being the oldest veteran of the revolution, Eamon de Valera benefited greatly personally from that incident in the eyes of the Irish nation (National Army Museum, n.d.). The aftermath of the uprising was the cornerstone for the overall shift in public attitudes.

Consequences

As has been mentioned, at first, many Irish people felt resentment toward the rebellion leaders and their supporters for the suffering and deaths brought on by the insurrection. Nevertheless, 15 revolutionary commanders were murdered by public execution in May. Over 3,000 individuals were detained on suspicion of directly or indirectly aiding the insurrection, and almost 2,000 of them were taken to Britain and incarcerated there without being given a chance to defend themselves (Grayson, 2018). The hasty executions, widespread imprisonment, and state of emergency, which persisted for months after the uprising, all contributed to the majority’s animosity toward the British authority and helped to strengthen support for the campaign for Irish autonomy.

The Sinn Fein opposition group, whose objective was the founding of a republican state, gained the preponderance of the Irish votes in the 1918 election for the British Parliament. Following their refusal to participate in the United Kingdom Parliament, the supporters of Sinn Fein gathered in Dublin in January 1919 to establish a unicameral legislature and proclaim Ireland’s sovereignty (Grayson, 2018). The Irish Republican Army then attacked the British authorities and its soldiers in Ireland. After a cease in 1921, the conflicting parties agreed to a six-month convention that advocated for the creation of the Irish Free State, a sovereign state within the British Commonwealth (Grayson, 2018). Six of Ireland’s states chose to stay in the U.K. rather than join the new autonomous territory (Grayson, 2018). In 1949, the Republic of Ireland became an official sovereign state (Grayson, 2018). Therefore, the initial agenda of obtaining autonomy was finally achieved.

Legacy

The Easter Rising’s significance is nuanced and even fiercely debated. Without question, British measures during and following the uprising, such as the murder of civilians, moved public sentiment toward supporting revolutionists. Public sentiment was further radicalized by the killings of the uprising commanders and the subsequent imprisonment of thousands of persons. Irish people began to doubt their continued connection to Britain as a result of the continuing casualties in World War One and the discussions around the implementation of conscription in 1918 (The National World War 2 Museum and Memorial, n.d.). Generally speaking, the population was turned away from Redmond’s vision of complete independence and toward Sinn Féin’s militant Republican ideology by the British reaction to the uprising and the larger effects of World War One.

Comprehending the Irish uprising against British authorities in the 1920s and the establishment of an autonomous Irish Free State depends heavily on the atmosphere of 1916 and the strategic experiences acquired from it. The contentious heritage of 1916, or more specifically, the issue of who will be the Proclamation’s ideological custodian, was additionally viewed as the onset of the Northern difficulties from 1968 and the revival of Irish Republican Brotherhoods (The National World War 2 Museum and Memorial, n.d.). It has been at the forefront of discussions concerning how this Rising’s centennial should be commemorated.

Cinematography

The Easter Rising is an integral part of Irish history and the nation’s values of freedom and autonomy. There are many films dedicated to this event that strive to emphasize the horror and life-changing moment for the state. Among such films are Michael Collins (1996), The Patriot Game (1978), Mise Eire (1959), Rocky Road to Dublin (1967), Mother Ireland (1998), and Ryan’s Daughter (1970).

Among the given pieces of cinematography, the most prominent and popular is Michael Collins, starring Liam Neeson in the leading role. In the early 20th century, Liam Neeson’s character, Michael Collins, commands the Irish Republican Army in a bloody conflict against British authorities. This happens alongside his allies Harry Boland, portrayed by Aidan Quinn, and Eamon de Valera, played by Alan Rickman (Jordan, 1996). However, Collins arranges peace with the British government when he believes his rebellion will fail, making him an enemy of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (Jordan, 1996). Collins is forced to choose between his allegiances when he is given the order to kill his allies.

References

Grayson, R. S. (2018). Dublin’s great wars: The First World War, the Easter Rising and the Irish Revolution. Cambridge University Press.

Jordan, N. (Director). (1996). Michael Collins [Film]. Warner Bros. Pictures.

Library of Congress. (n.d.). Easter Rising. Web.

National Army Museum. (n.d.).Easter Rising. Web.

The National World War 2 Museum and Memorial. (n.d.). Easter Rising. Web.

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