Anglo-Irish Treaty rejected

so I heard some where that the British only put forward the Treaty because they were sure it would be rejected by the Dáil Éireann/IRA of the "Irish Republic" which would be an opening for the UK to Impose Martial law on Ireland, in OTL it passed the Dáil Éireann 64 for, 57 against, so what if the vote went the other way and the Treaty got shot down?
 

Germaniac

Donor
Well all hell will break loose. The British will continue its policy as per the government of ireland act, where it was treated as a colony. The IRA would be unable to do anything more than what they were already doing (and likely not even at the same level). The IRA would begin to bring the fight to Britain (and northern ireland). This would cause the British people to either a) reinforce the need to end this B) make the British people angrier and want revenge.

Either way the British will no longer be willing to talk with the IRA. You may see a partially lawless south, with british in control of cities and IRA elsewhere, and the war being carried out in the north with even more violence (an early troubles)

Micheal Collins will be viewed no longer as a freedom fighter in the worlds eyes, but as a terrorist. The IRA will be painted as they were in the troubles.

One thing is for sure, Ireland wont be pacified and continued violence may see the situation get worse, and possibly a complete seperation, and if enough goes to hell the British may be willing to let the North go if the casualties continue to rise.
 
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