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The fundamental principles on which Sinn Fein was founded were outlined in a book published in 1904 by Griffith called the Resurrection of Hungary, in which, noting how in 1867 Hungary went from being part of the Austrian Empire to a separate co-equal kingdom in Austria-Hungary. Though not a monarchist himself, Griffith advocated such an approach for the Anglo-Irish relationship, namely that Ireland should become a separate kingdom alongside the United Kingdom, they forming a dual monarchy with a shared monarch but separate governments.
In 1916 rebels seized and took over a number of key locations in Dublin, in what became known as the Easter RisingThe Easter Rising ( Irish: iri Amach na Casca was an unsuccessful rebellion staged in Ireland against British rule on Easter Monday in April 1916. The rebellion marked the most famous attempt by militant republicans to seize control of Ireland and force i. After its defeat, it was widely described both by British politicians and the Irish and British media as the Sinn Féin rebellion, even though Sinn Féin had no involvement. When in 1917, surviving leaders of the Rebellion were released from prison (or escaped) they infiltrated Sinn Féin, using it as a vehicle for the advancement of their demanded 'republic'. The result was a bitter clash between those original members who backed Griffith's concept of an Anglo-Irish dual monarchy and the new members, under Eamon de ValeraEamon de Valera 1 (born Edward George de Valera Irish name amonn de Bhaileara ( October 14, 1882 August 29, 1975), was a leader of Ireland's struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th Century, and of the Republican opposition in the ensuing, who wanted to achieve a republic. Matters almost led to a split at the party's Árd Fhéis (conference) in October 1917. In a compromise, it was decided to seek to establish a republic initially, then allow the people to decide if they wanted a republic or a monarchy, subject to the condition that no member of Britain's royal house could sit on any prospective Irish throne. Griffith resigned the party leadership and presidency at that Árd Fhéis, and was replaced by de Valera.
Griffith was elected an MP for Sinn Féin in the 1918 general election. Sinn Féin's MPs decided not to take their seats in the British House of CommonsThe House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 659 members, who are known as "Members of Parliamen but instead set up their own Irish parliament, Dáil ÉireannDail Eireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland 1. Its powers are similar to those of lower houses under many other parliamentary systems. It meets, since 1922, in Leinster House in Dublin. Composition The current (see First DáilThe First Dail was Dail Eireann as it convened from 1919 1921. In 1919 candidates who had been elected in the Westminster elections of 1918 refused to recognise the Parliament of the United Kingdom and instead assembled as a unicameral, revolutionary parl). The dominant leaders in the new unilaterally declared Irish Republic were figures like Eamon de Valera, President of Dáil Éireann (1919-21), President of the Republic (1921-22), and Michael Collins, Minister for Finance, head of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Irish Republican Army's major strategist. Griffith became central to the Republic again when in late 1921, President de Valera asked him to head the delegation of Irish plenipotentiaries to negotiate with the British Government.