The Easter Rising of 1916

... The Easter Rising of 1916 had profound and far-reaching effects on Ireland's subsequent history. It has been referred to as 'The Irish War for Independence' and was the pivotal event in ultimately securing independence for the Republic of Ireland. For centuries, Ireland had been under English rule, the English perceiving the Irish to be barbarians who had to be tamed. The invasion by King Henry II of England in the twelfth century, the attempts by future English monarchs to colonize Ireland with English, the massacres orchestrated by Cromwell (1652), and the way the English had treated the Irish during their 'darkest hour' (The Famine 1845-1852) had all contributed to the growing dissatisfaction among the Irish natives. Many had attempted rebellions before, none had succeeded in obtaining what most of the Irish population desired - a free country, one in which they could claim back their rightful heritage as landowners. Several

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