<P> The civil war was waged between two opposing groups , Irish republicans and Irish nationalists , over the Anglo - Irish Treaty . The forces of the Provisional Government ( which became the Free State in December 1922 ) supported the Treaty , while the Republican opposition saw it as a betrayal of the Irish Republic ( which had been proclaimed during the Easter Rising ) . Many of those who fought on both sides in the conflict had been members of the Irish Republican Army ( IRA ) during the War of Independence . </P>
<P> The civil war was waged between two opposing groups , Irish republicans and Irish nationalists , over the Anglo - Irish Treaty . The forces of the Provisional Government ( which became the Free State in December 1922 ) supported the Treaty , while the Republican opposition saw it as a betrayal of the Irish Republic ( which had been proclaimed during the Easter Rising ) . Many of those who fought on both sides in the conflict had been members of the Irish Republican Army ( IRA ) during the War of Independence . </P>
what was the main cause of the irish civil war
what was the main cause of the irish civil war
Anglo - Irish Treaty
Anglo - Irish Treaty