What did Eamon de Valera do during the Irish War of Independence?

During the Irish War of Independence, Eamon de Valera served as the president of the revolutionary Sinn Féin party, having been elected to the position in October 1917.1

His primary activities during this period included:

• Fundraising in the United States: Following a dramatic escape from Lincoln Jail in February 1919, de Valera traveled in disguise to the United States to collect funds for the republican cause.1
• Diplomatic Oversight: He returned to Ireland before the war ended with the truce of July 11, 1921. In his capacity as president, he appointed plenipotentiaries to conduct negotiations with the British government in London.12
• Treaty Rejection: After his representatives signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty on December 6, 1921, de Valera repudiated the agreement. He opposed the treaty primarily because it required an oath of allegiance to the British crown, a stance that ultimately led to his leadership of the anti-treaty faction during the subsequent Irish Civil War.12