The author could have chosen other ways to present the material. Instead of focusing on summarizing the general events and facts of the war, emphasis could have been focused on one side or the other. Both sides have valid arguments and griefs, and by summarizing all relevant facts it is difficult to get to some of the underlaying and less apparent undercurrents existing in Ireland at the time. Instead, by focusing or highlighting one party or another, more detail could have been given.
More details of the important effects could have been given. Modern Ireland still has many complex and vital issues to deal with, that are a direct result of the events of that time period. The political parties and political slogans and ideas that exist and which prevail today were given birth to during the civil war. Many institutions and traditions have been handed down since their creation during that era. Significant and critical decisions were made by the leaders of the time that make Ireland what it is today.
Another way to attack the paper would have been to focus on the affects that writers and poets had on the events and on the issues. Ireland has always been a literary country, giving a great deal of respect and deference to her literary masters. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and other famous playwrights, poets, and novelists were important to distributing and clarifying the political ideas and views of their political parties. Emphasis could also have been placed on the affect that the war itself had on the literary works of the time, with the civil war as a cause rather than an effect. Much of what was produced and written at the time was obviously done so in reaction to the war as the authors saw it.
Overall the paper greatly increased my understanding of what is a very confusing time period. Names, dates, and parties were emphasized, giving a stark view of the most important and formative people, times, and events. Several paragraphs were dedicated to the causes of the war, and towards the end others summarized the effects on the years directly following the end of the war. By objectively summarizing the events much of the confusion and propaganda is removed, allowing a clearer picture and a better understanding of the major causes and effects.