How Ireland Gained Its Independence

At 2:20am 6 December 1921, the Anglo-Irish treaty was signed between Irish Republican and British leaders. The treaty established a self-governing Irish Free State and provided for Northern Ireland (established in 1920) to become part of the United Kingdom.

The treaty brought the Irish War of Independence to an end but also stirred up fresh conflict between the new Provisional Government and Republican forces, which resulted in the Irish Civil War.