Was is a good decision for the english to execute the leaders of the 1916 rising?

Question

They shot James Connolly in his chair

Answer 1

No it wasn't a good decision.  At the time, it may have appeared to be the proper thing to do as they were dealing with 'rebels'...commoners that were insubordinate to English rule.  Their decision to execute those involved in The Rising - particularly the badly injured James Connolly - created a stronger sense of patriotism for the Irish Republic.  

Without those executions the fight for freedom against the English may not have existed.  Hindsight would suggest that the execution of the heros of the 1916 Easter Rising was not a good decision from either perspective, though it may have helped the Repulican cause...

Erin Go Braugh...Pearse's vision of the Republic should be alive and live forever!

Answer 2

Cetainly not from the English Point of View.

England should have already learnt from past experience that Ireland is no place for an enemy to make martyrs. It is my opinion that had they been sent to Wales, like the others, the movement would have fizzled out and Ireland would still be part of the UK, but would probably now have a devolved parliament like the one in Edinburgh.

Those brave men and women, including those executed, knew exactly the risks they were taking - and they were willing to give their lives freely.

We all owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never pay.

Answer 3

No in retrospect it was a very bad idea.Before the uprising the majority of people were happy enough under British rule and really just wanted peace. Because of the executions, the public who beforehand had nothing to do with the uprising became decidedly anti-British. It was a very small minority who were involved in the uprising but the executions and imprisonments affected a lot more. After the executions British soldiers went around the country arresting anyone involved in Conradh na Gaeilge or Sinn Féin (which at this stage was not a republican party and didn't even support the uprising). This again turned people against the British resulting in the Irish public looking for complete independence, Sinn Féin became a republican party and the IRA gaining many new members.

Answer 4

In retrospect, No. The UK lost Ireland due to such blatant disregard of the Irish desire for freedom.

Answer 5

they had no good reason by doing so they made martyrs of them all

Answer 6

No, it was a stupid decision.  They made them into martyrs

Answer 7

It was a bad idea but i guess they figured they would teach them bounders a lesson and discourage any future similar acts of disloyalty.

Not how it worked out partly because they dragged the executions out.

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