Overreaction

On 24 April 1916 a secret organization called the Republican Brotherhood staged what would become known as the Easter Rising. They had expected around 5,000 to show up there were only around 1,000. They seized Dublin's post office, courts of law, and several other locations. From the steps of the post office they declared Ireland to be an independent republic. They had planned on people in Dublin rushing to their ranks. Instead, people walked by and looked at them as if they a little crazy.

it was in the British government's interest to apply minimal power. But the British shelled the rebel headquarters and killed civilians. Shipments of food to Dublin were cut off. Around 5,000 British soldiers with armored cars began moving into the city, and they were supported by more artillery fire. More civilians were killed, and 134 British soldiers and police died. Six days after the uprising began the rebels surrendered. England court-martialed and speedily executed fifteen of the rebellion's leaders. The British government made matters worse for itself by cracking down on those they suspected of sympathizing with the rebellion. British authorities arrested approximately 3,500 Irish, including 80 women. The British had accomplished for the rebels what the rebels had not. People across Ireland were now adamantly in favor of the rebellion' s goal, and British rule would end in 1922 with what would be called the Irish Freestate.