Ireland Becomes Independent

Ireland had been a state within the British Commonwealth. In 1949 Ireland was declared a Republic and left the British Commonwealth.

Under the terms of the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1922, the Irish Free State was created. In 1937 a new constitution was adopted that renamed the country Ireland and the country became a Republic with a non-executive President. The Republic of Ireland Act was passed in 1948. Under its provisions, the President of Ireland received executive authority, including the power to conduct external relations. In addition, the act ended the role of the British monarchy in Ireland. The act took effect on April 18, 1949.