After the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, 6 December 1921, and its subsequent ratification on 7 January 1922 by the Dáil, twenty-six of thirty-two counties of Ireland formed the Irish Free State – a state that included Co. Wexford. Six northern counties chose shortly afterwards to remain as part of the British state – as they had a Protestant majority that identified itself as British. However, these six counties also included a substantial miniority who saw themselves as Irish, who now felt abandoned and dissatisfied at the new situation. From 1922 onwards, therefore, with the formation of the Irish Free State, what is today called the Republic of Ireland has been self-governing, though on paper it was not yet fully independent as some details were still left outstanding. Some aspects of the Treaty were deeply unpopular. The Dáil-controlled I.R.A. split into pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty forces. The pro-Treaty side continued in government, led by Michael Collins, and controlled the "Free State Army". This consisted of pro-Treaty I.R.A. and other recruits. Those against the Treaty withdrew from the Dáil and fought a war, the Irish Civil War (1922–1923), against these government forces. The anti-Treaty side are usually referred to as Republicans, the anti-Treaty I.R.A., or simply the I.R.A. (which de facto they were from that point forward).