To his Irish brother, he was known as the "Big Fellow." His first leadership position was his leadership in the Easter Rising. This position was the basis of the rest of his titles. Next, he became the adjutant general and director of organization for the Irish Volunteers, and Irish nationalist party. Then, he acted as president of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) Supreme Council. One of his larger achievements was when he won the seat for South Cork in the 1918 general election. An Irish Parliament was set up in Dublin and it was called Dail Elireann. Collins was appointed as Minister of Home Affairs, and then later as the Minister of Finance. In this chair is where he organized the "Dail Loan" that was very successful in financing the republican government.
Through all of these events, Collins became highly respected in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). In the IRA is where he discovered his true calling. He was the head of intelligence in the IRA. He made an extraordinary spy network that, in the end, totally took out the British intelligence program, making it irreparable. Britain had no more eyes or ears and didn't have a prayer of controlling Ireland.
So with Collins' genius, British rule in Ireland was hopeless. So England was force to compromise with Ireland. They signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty on December 6, 1921, allowing for the Irish Free State. Collins became the head of the provisional government of the Irish Free State in 1922. But according to the treaty, Ireland was still under the British Empire. This fact split the IRA and Ireland into two parties: the anti-treaty and the pro-treaty parties. War erupted between the two parties, started by anti-treaty forces, which is known as the Irish Civil War. Collins served as a general of the Free State Army (pro-treaty) in this War. He is commonly now referred to as General Michael Collins. But he did not see the end of the Civil War.
Collins traveled back to his county of birth, Cork, seeking peace between the two parties and an end to the war. He had been warned that Cork was the stronghold of the ant-treaty forces, which meant that his life was at risk. His response was, "Surely, they won't shoot me in my own county," (Soodalter, pg. 46). But, as it turns out, they would. His Assassination occurred on August 22, 1922. His former comrades in arms shot and killed him.
But his biggest accomplishment still today is Ireland. Without his brilliance in making an incredible intelligence program, Britain would not have surrendered. Because of his leadership, Ireland is the Irish Free State today.
Through all of these events, Collins became highly respected in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). In the IRA is where he discovered his true calling. He was the head of intelligence in the IRA. He made an extraordinary spy network that, in the end, totally took out the British intelligence program, making it irreparable. Britain had no more eyes or ears and didn't have a prayer of controlling Ireland.
So with Collins' genius, British rule in Ireland was hopeless. So England was force to compromise with Ireland. They signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty on December 6, 1921, allowing for the Irish Free State. Collins became the head of the provisional government of the Irish Free State in 1922. But according to the treaty, Ireland was still under the British Empire. This fact split the IRA and Ireland into two parties: the anti-treaty and the pro-treaty parties. War erupted between the two parties, started by anti-treaty forces, which is known as the Irish Civil War. Collins served as a general of the Free State Army (pro-treaty) in this War. He is commonly now referred to as General Michael Collins. But he did not see the end of the Civil War.
Collins traveled back to his county of birth, Cork, seeking peace between the two parties and an end to the war. He had been warned that Cork was the stronghold of the ant-treaty forces, which meant that his life was at risk. His response was, "Surely, they won't shoot me in my own county," (Soodalter, pg. 46). But, as it turns out, they would. His Assassination occurred on August 22, 1922. His former comrades in arms shot and killed him.
But his biggest accomplishment still today is Ireland. Without his brilliance in making an incredible intelligence program, Britain would not have surrendered. Because of his leadership, Ireland is the Irish Free State today.