A Little Bit of History

This question was posed on week 3 of a Future Learn Course on The history of Ireland between 1912 and 1923.

'What amounts to political activism in a period of war and revolution?

The significance of the current troubles of today can only be emphasized with what has happened in many places before. Including The United Kingdom, most of mainland Europe and The Middle East. This week there is 'Civil Disobedience' in Hong Kong which can not end happily as in Tibet.
However my comments below were written in respect of Ireland.

In an instance I pose this question, when does revolution start? Ireland was always a problem to the 'British Crown' with much suppression in forms of violence and land re-possession. Hatred and revulsion at oppression would have been plenty enough to polarize views. A display of open force individually or as group action is the militant face of political activism. When there is a survival need to fight then activists will roll this through politics to the use of the gun and the bomb. Propaganda would have been used by all sides - Crown - Pro-treaty and Anti-treaty - with rallies, speeches, newspapers and posters. The main impact would have been made by the orators who could stir the passion of the people. In hard violent times that would be easy to arouse. In some ways the political posturing was a four-cornered affair if the Unionists are included.
As we know politics were put to one side, albeit temporary, in The Easter Rising, and the executions of the principal combatants. A 'war' during a major European War that would have created a greater rift between factions than before because Irishmen did fight and die to free Europe of German influence.
It would be foolish to assume that political activity ceased when two sides fought for supremacy in Ireland. Michael Collins was for one solution whereas De Valera took the view that a final break with the then British Empire was his only way. So, during this short internal war political activities on a region and parish level would have continued and continued to influence people's opinions and their lives. Sadly, during that time many good men were killed by their own and families were split. Then, of course, the political activities commenced with word-of-mouth stories, not always accurate, but slewed to reflect a political point. These still influence the divides of today.