| De Valera began
his career teaching mathematics. In 1913 armed
with a growing sense of patriotism he joined the
Irish Repoblican Brotherhood and took a leading
part in the 1916 Easter Rising. For this he was
sentenced to death but was later reprived. Upon release from jail he
quickly emerged as a national political figure an
played a decisive role in the Treaty negotiations
of 1920-21 with England. In 1926 De Valera formed
his own political party called Fianna Fail. From
1932 until 1948 the party held the balance of
power in the Irish government with De Valera as
Prime Minister. In 1937 he wrote a new
constitution for Ireland which is still in effect
today. He was elected President of the League of
Nations in 1938 and through his effots to
maintain world peace and then Irish nutrality
during the 2nd World War he gained international
respect and recognition.
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