In 1916, the Irish Revolution began. Collins and De Valera were allies and leaders of the Irish Republic. Many women were involved in the revolution. The first real uprising was the Easter Rising of 1916. A group of about 1,000 men led by James Connelly and Patrick Pearse attempted to capture several buildings in Dublin. Many people were arrested, including Eamon De Valera. De Valera was the only prisoner that was not executed, because he was considered to be an American (he was born in NYC). He escaped from prison in 1919, making him an iconic figure in the revolution. In 1919, the War of Independence began because the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was attacking British police forces, which retaliated. A truce was declared on July 11, 1921. In December of 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was produced.