Sinn Féin, founded in 1905 as a political party in Ireland, has had a profound historical impact on the country's path to independence. Originally advocating for Irish self-governance within the British Empire, the party later transformed under the leadership of figures like Arthur Griffith and Éamon de Valera into a staunch supporter of complete independence. The party's involvement in the Easter Rising of 1916 and subsequent guerrilla warfare during the Irish War of Independence were pivotal in weakening British rule and forcing negotiations that led to the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922. Although the party split over the acceptance of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State, Sinn Féin remained a key player in Irish politics, evolving into both a political party in the Republic of Ireland and a prominent force within Northern Ireland. Its influence, along with its association with the Irish Republican Army, has shaped the complexities of Irish politics and identity, making Sinn Féin an enduring and influential part of Ireland's historical narrative.
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