VII. History
Three eras have defined Ireland�s history since 1916. First is the period of 1916 to 1923, a time of rebellion, civil war, and the partition of Ireland. A treaty of independence for Ireland, which recognized Northern Ireland as a part of the United Kingdom, was deeply divisive and had a profound influence on the nation�s political and cultural life for much of the 20th century. Second is the long era of internal closure that ensued after Ireland�s independence. Marked by isolationism, protectionist economic policies, and cultural nationalism, this inward-looking period lasted until the 1950s. Third is the post-1950s period of economic expansion. During this time Ireland emerged as an outward-looking and markedly more prosperous country.

A. Struggle for Independence
Resentment in Ireland over British rule mounted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and a movement for home rule (self-government on domestic matters) gathered force. By 1893 the British Parliament in London had debated and defeated two bills providing home rule for Ireland. Calls for home rule alarmed Irish Protestants in the north who wished to preserve the union with the United Kingdom, and they organized the unionist movement to oppose home rule. The Catholic nationalist movement, which backed greater independence for Ireland, was split between moderate forces and more radical revolutionary elements. This latter group included Sinn Fein, a political party founded in 1905 by Dublin journalist Arthur Griffith.