The Irish Civil War

Curriculum Area

Subject: History
Key Stage: 4 (Year 10)
Exam Board Specification: AQA / Edexcel / OCR / WJEC (Ensure alignment with the specific exam board used by the school)
Topic Area: Conflict and Tension, Nationalism, and the Interwar Period

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Explain the causes of the Irish Civil War (1922–1923).
2. Assess the key events and figures involved in the conflict.
3. Analyse the impact of the war on Ireland and its long-term consequences.
4. Engage in critical debates about the significance of the conflict in shaping modern Ireland.

Lesson Duration

Total Time: 60 minutes
Class Size: 25 students

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Lesson Breakdown

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – ‘Historical Mystery’

• Objective: Engage students with an inquiry-based approach.
• Activity:
  • Display the quote: "No man has a right to fix the boundary to the march of a nation." – Charles Stewart Parnell.
  • Hand out slips of paper with short, contrasting primary source excerpts (e.g., one from pro-Treaty and one from anti-Treaty perspectives).
  • In pairs, students quickly discuss what they think the Irish Civil War was about based on the sources and write down initial thoughts.
  • Whole-class discussion: What do the excerpts reveal about divisions within Ireland?

Teacher-Led Explanation (15 minutes) – The Road to Civil War

• Objective: Provide historical context, ensuring all students understand the causes.
• Method:
  • Use a structured timeline on the board, beginning with the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921) and ending with the death of Michael Collins (1922).
  • Key points to cover:
    1. The War of Independence (1919–1921)
    2. The Treaty and the split (Pro-Treaty vs. Anti-Treaty)
    3. The start of Civil War – The attack on Four Courts (June 1922)
    4. Key battles and figures (Michael Collins, Éamon de Valera, Liam Lynch)
    5. The end of war and long-term consequences
  • Use images, maps, and short video clips (if available) to reinforce key points.

Group Activity (15 minutes) – ‘Deciding Ireland’s Fate’ Debate

• Objective: Encourage historical empathy and critical thinking skills.
• Activity:
  • Split the class into two groups:
    • Pro-Treaty side (supporters of Michael Collins)
    • Anti-Treaty side (followers of Éamon de Valera)
  • Provide each group with summarised historical arguments for their side.
  • Groups have 8 minutes to develop and prepare their arguments.
  • A structured debate follows, with students presenting points and rebutting the opposing side.
  • The rest of the class observes and votes on the most persuasive argument.

Independent Task (10 minutes) – ‘What If?’ Scenario Writing

• Objective: Foster deeper understanding of historical causation and the impact of decisions.
• Task:
  • Students write a structured paragraph answering:
    • “What would have happened if the Treaty had been rejected by both sides? How might Ireland’s history be different today?”
  • They must use at least two historical facts in their answer.
  • Selected students share their responses with the class.

Plenary (10 minutes) – ‘One Word Summary’ and Exit Tickets

• One Word Summary: Each student must choose one word that summarises the Irish Civil War and explain why they chose that word.
• Exit Ticket: Before leaving, students write:
  • One fact they learnt today.
  • One question they still have about the topic.

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Differentiation & Support

• Provide scaffolded notes for students who need additional support.
• More able students can be given a historiography task – comparing how different historians have interpreted the Irish Civil War.
• Use visual resources (maps, primary images) for students who benefit from graphical learning.
• Offer sentence starters for students who require additional structure in written tasks.

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Assessment & Homework

Formative Assessment:

• Teacher observes engagement and participation in debate and activities.
• Monitor written responses to ‘What If?’ scenario for historical accuracy and reasoning.

Homework:

• Students research and write a 300-word diary entry from the perspective of either a pro-Treaty or anti-Treaty fighter. They must reflect on the key events, their emotions, and their hopes for Ireland’s future.

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Resources Needed

• Printed primary source excerpts
• Timeline printed/interactive version on the board
• Resource sheets for both pro- and anti-Treaty debate groups
• Exit ticket slips

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Reflection for Teacher Post-Lesson

• Did students grasp the complexity of the civil war beyond a simple "pro- vs anti-Treaty" debate?
• How effective was the debate in encouraging historical empathy?
• Do students require additional support in analysing primary sources for bias and reliability?

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This lesson is designed to be engaging, discussion-based, and rooted in critical historical thinking, ensuring Year 10 students connect with the complexity of the Irish Civil War while aligning with UK curriculum standards.