William Murphy
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- April 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199569076
- eISBN:
- 9780191747373
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199569076.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Modern History, Political History
This chapter charts the imprisonment in Ireland under the Defence of the Realm Act of radicals—largely Irish separatists who were members of the Irish Volunteers, but also pacifists—between the ...
More
This chapter charts the imprisonment in Ireland under the Defence of the Realm Act of radicals—largely Irish separatists who were members of the Irish Volunteers, but also pacifists—between the outbreak of World War I and the Easter Rising of 1916. These men qualify for the description ‘political prisoners’ under almost every criterion one might apply. They were imprisoned because of their political activity and for political purposes. They were imprisoned under extraordinary legislation, although the state was cautious in its use of this legislation, combining severity with flexibility. The prisoners presented the state’s actions as illegitimate, declaring themselves political prisoners and regarding themselves as a class apart. They and their supporters employed very effective propaganda tactics, but they did not, with notable exceptions, develop an effective strategy for militant action inside the prisons.Less
This chapter charts the imprisonment in Ireland under the Defence of the Realm Act of radicals—largely Irish separatists who were members of the Irish Volunteers, but also pacifists—between the outbreak of World War I and the Easter Rising of 1916. These men qualify for the description ‘political prisoners’ under almost every criterion one might apply. They were imprisoned because of their political activity and for political purposes. They were imprisoned under extraordinary legislation, although the state was cautious in its use of this legislation, combining severity with flexibility. The prisoners presented the state’s actions as illegitimate, declaring themselves political prisoners and regarding themselves as a class apart. They and their supporters employed very effective propaganda tactics, but they did not, with notable exceptions, develop an effective strategy for militant action inside the prisons.
Robert Duncan
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- September 2014
- ISBN:
- 9781846318955
- eISBN:
- 9781781381021
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Liverpool University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5949/liverpool/9781846318955.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Modern History
This chapter aims to detail the gathering crescendo for some form of action to be taken on the drink issue. As the war progressed, its pressures had increasing repercussions on the home front. The ...
More
This chapter aims to detail the gathering crescendo for some form of action to be taken on the drink issue. As the war progressed, its pressures had increasing repercussions on the home front. The expenditure of shells and arms on an unprecedented scale increased pressure on Britain’s industrial infrastructure. Adjusting to this demand for military hardware was a difficult task and the type of war being fought accentuated the problem. Britain’s factories, whilst simultaneously having to deal with a large amount of its experienced workforce joining the army, could not cope with demand. Blame had to be placed somewhere, so it is unsurprising that the industrial working class bore the brunt of accusations regarding degenerate behaviour. During this period Lloyd George and King George V spoke about how important the drink issue was to the war effort. In an important speech Lloyd George criticised workers’ drinking habits and his actions suggest that he wanted a ‘national conversation’ to occur on the issue. This was the period during which the ‘severity’ of the drink problem was finally realised by society.Less
This chapter aims to detail the gathering crescendo for some form of action to be taken on the drink issue. As the war progressed, its pressures had increasing repercussions on the home front. The expenditure of shells and arms on an unprecedented scale increased pressure on Britain’s industrial infrastructure. Adjusting to this demand for military hardware was a difficult task and the type of war being fought accentuated the problem. Britain’s factories, whilst simultaneously having to deal with a large amount of its experienced workforce joining the army, could not cope with demand. Blame had to be placed somewhere, so it is unsurprising that the industrial working class bore the brunt of accusations regarding degenerate behaviour. During this period Lloyd George and King George V spoke about how important the drink issue was to the war effort. In an important speech Lloyd George criticised workers’ drinking habits and his actions suggest that he wanted a ‘national conversation’ to occur on the issue. This was the period during which the ‘severity’ of the drink problem was finally realised by society.
