1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty

The 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty was an agreement between the British government and Irish representatives, aimed at ending the Irish War of Independence. Signed on December 6, 1921, it established the Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth, granting it considerable autonomy. However, it retained the British monarch as the head of state and required an oath of allegiance from Irish officials. The treaty caused political divisions in Ireland, leading to civil war between pro-treaty and anti-treaty factions, as it was seen by some as a compromise rather than full independence.