Assess the attempt by the Liberal government to deal with the Irish problem in the years 1906 to 1916.

The Irish problem was very serious to the Liberal government. Ireland was almost in a state of civil war and probably would have ended up in civil war had World War One not begun when it did. Militant groups armed themselves and the country was split over the issue of home rule. Unionists were dedicated to remaining a part of the United Kingdom while Nationalists were strongly in favour of an Irish republic which was independent of the United Kingdom. Each group had support and each group was armed and ready to fight for what they believed should happen. The Liberal government of this time was faced with the problem of deciding exactly what to do since the only two obvious options would seemingly trigger a civil war (the two options being giving Ireland home rule, or not giving Ireland home rule).

The liberals came to power in the 1906 election and immediately were faced with a number of important issues. The Irish situation was volatile since the Ulster Unionist Council ...