However, four years after the Easter Rebellion of 1916, Irish republicanism had reached new heights and loyalism in Ireland was diminishing. In March 1920, as Secretary of State for War, Churchill ordered British-recruited auxiliaries (known as the Black and Tans), into Ireland as an attempt to put an end to the proclaimed Irish republic. The Tans were temporary recruits to assist the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in maintaining control over Ireland from the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Anglo-Irish War. Churchill had also considered starting a bombing campaign in Ireland against the IRA and its commander-in-chief Michael Collins.