Since its creation in 1919, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been a fighting force behind Ireland's independence from Great Britain. The IRA was an organization intended to help Ireland in its struggle for independence and to provide military support for the future. However, did the creation of the IRA actually help Ireland in the end, or did it cause more problems than the Irish already had? Although the IRA was established to aid Ireland in its fight for independence, its brutal tactics and inability to compromise ultimately led to destruction and trouble rather than peace for the Ireland. Early in the Irish Kingdom, it was clear that Britain wanted Ireland of its own. From the time of Henry VIII, who crowned himself King of Ireland, the Irish knew that one day Britain would attempt to claim their kingdom. After Henry VIII, other leaders imposed their will on the Irish. Elizabeth I introduced Protestantism to a predominantly Catholic country. James I, in order to further what Elizabeth imposed, created Ulster in Northern Ireland and displaced the people who had previously lived there. In the early 1800s, the kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain merged to create an improved kingdom. There were several problems due to the racial and cultural differences of the two kingdoms. This would cause many problems between the two over the years. Over the years, the Irish people have fought to get a Home Rule Bill passed through their parliament. But several times the bill was canceled. Eventually, a group of Irish republicans grew tired of British rule in Ireland and mounted a rebellion. The rebellion was not only caused by British failure... middle of paper ......tion.gov.uk /ukpga/Geo6/12-13-14/41 (accessed March 17, 2014) . Irish Republican Army. Stop Press. July 3, 1922 “Irish Republican Army (IRA). » National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. http://www.start.umd.edu/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=55 (accessed March 17, 2014). Litton, Helen. The Irish Civil War: An Illustrated History. Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 1995. Mackay, James. Michael Collins: A Life. Edinburgh, Great Britain: Mainstream Publishing Company LTD, 1996. Moloney, Ed. A Secret History of the IRA. New York: WW Norton & Company LTD, 2002. O Brion, Leon Dublin Castle and the Rising of 1916. New York: New York University Press, 1971. Smith, MLR Fighting for Ireland? The military strategy of the Irish republican movement. London: Routledge, 1995. The Free State. The Free State: An Saorstat, October 7, 1922.