Volunteers kom gradvist mere under IRB's kontrol, organisationen var dannet af IRB i 1913, med det formål at iscenesætte en opstand,<ref>Myths from Easter 1916, Eoin Neeson, 2007, page 79, Easter 1916: The Irish Rebellion, Charles Townshend, 2005, page 41, The IRA, Tim Pat Coogan, 1970, page 33, The Irish Volunteers 1913-1915,F. X. Martin 1963, page 24, The Easter Rising, Michael Foy & Brian Barton, 2004, page 7, Myths from Easter 1916, Eoin Neeson, 2007, page 79, Victory of Sinn Féin, P.S. O’Hegarty, page 9-10, The Path to Freedom, Michael Collins, 1922, page 54, Irish Nationalism, Sean Cronin, 1981, page 105, A History of Ireland Under the Union, P. S. O’Hegarty, page 669, 1916: Easter Rising, Pat Coogan, page 50, Revolutionary Woman, Kathleen Clarke, 1991, page 44, The Bold Fenian Men, Robert Kee, 1976, page 203, The IRB: The Irish Republican Brotherhood from the League to Sinn Féin, Owen McGee, 2005, 353-354</ref> og det blev en sag for IRB's medlemmer høj som lav at fremme dens status. Gennem disse organisationer ville de presse nationalisme, separatisme og i sidste instans forandring igennem<ref name=" The Easter Rising"/>; Fra 1916 var en stor del af lederskabet i Volunteers passionerede republikanere. En bemærkelsesværdig undtagelse var grundlæggeren og stabschefen [[Eoin MacNeill]], der ikke kendte IRB's intentioner. MacNeill havde derimod en ide om at bruge IRB i en forhandlingssituation over for briterne efter 1.verdenskrig.<ref> F.S.L. Lyons, ''Ireland Since the Famine'', Collins/Fontana, 1971; p. 341</ref><ref>MacNeill approved of armed resistance only if the British attempted to impose conscription on Ireland for the World War or if they launched a campaign of repression against Irish nationalist movements, in such a case he believed that they would have mass support. MacNeill's view was supported within the IRB, by [[Bulmer Hobson]]. Nevertheless, the IRB hoped either to win him over to their side (through deceit if necessary) or bypass his command altogether. Myths from Easter 1916, Eoin Neeson, 2007</ref>
Psykologi Samfund Mellemmenneskelige_forhold