the Anglo-Irish War

Anglo-Irish War, the (1919-1921), the War of Independence whereby a parliament of the Republic of Ireland asserted its sovereignty in arms and won dominion status from the British Government under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Following Sinn Féin's 1918 general election victory, that party constituted itself as Dáil Éireann in Dublin on 21 January 1919, declaring allegiance to the Republic proclaimed in the 1916 Easter Rising. The same day, a party of Irish Volunteers killed two members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) escorting gelignite at Soloheadbeg, Co. Tipperary. The ensuing guerrilla operations were conducted by the IRA under the brilliant direction of Michael Collins. The government raised the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries, two forces recruited from ex-servicemen in Britain. By the spring of 1921 the administrative processes of the State were in abeyance and neither side could see any prospect of military victory. On 10 July a truce was declared leading to the signing of an Anglo-Irish Treaty in London on 6 December 1921 and the foundation of an Irish Free State. The Treaty was repudiated by Eamon de Valera, and those who left with him formed the Republican leadership in the ensuing Civil War.