Coming into the 20th century the Irish tried a new approach for freedom. They decided to form a nationalist armed force called the Irish Volunteers. These were the main contributors to the 1916 rebellion. In Dublin the workers staged a 'lock-out', refusing to work. Many people in the city were arrested including the chief labour organiser, James Larkin. Following these protests the Irish Volunteers and the Citizen Army decided to take things a step further. They decided to have a rebellion on Easter Monday, 24th April 1916. Seven of the leaders signed a proclamation of independence of the Irish Republic which stated that the Irish people owned the country and it was up to the army to win it back. The rising lasted about a week. The volunteers took up posts throughout the city. Even though the English were currently caught up in World War I the Irish still found themselves greatly out-gunned. They surrendered about a week later, but it was not over. The most significant part of the rising was the asassination of the leaders which turned the Irish people against the British. The decision of the majority had been made - they did not want to be ruled by them anymore. This led to the war of independence, the civil war and later the establishment of the state.