The Ulster Unionists however knew that even this show of strength and support would have little effect on the MPs in Westminster. Despite recognition that the Covenant demonstrated a strong resistance to Home Rule in Ulster, it was completely ignored and would have little effect on the Bill passing. The Unionists decided they would set up their own parliament and a five man committee, including Carson, would govern Ulster and maintain the link with the Union if a separatist parliament was forced on Ulster. It was Lord Carson himself who was to provide the method under which this parliament of the union would be provided. In what is now regarded as an historic meeting, the council meeting of the Ulster Unionists in December 1912 decided that they would take all means necessary to oppose Home Rule.
Carson himself stated this would be lethal force if required and he orchestrated the formation of a protestant militia that would be used to defend Ulster at all costs from any attempt to force it out of the Union. Carson said this army of the people would be called the Ulster Volunteer Force and that they would take their motto from the wording of the covenant and the phrase 'For God and Ulster' was adopted and the UVF was formerly instituted. The call to arms was made to all men of military age that had signed the covenant and they signed up en masse. They began drilling and marching and by the end of 1913 Carson's Volunteers numbered 90,000 men
Carson's UVF were not the only armed group to exist in the North at the time of the Home Rule Crisis. Ulster had for centuries been raising groups of armed men in paramilitary style organisations to defend the province. It was an accepted part of the culture of the Ulster protestant. This can be highlighted by the loose group of legal militias that were called the Volunteers. This group had been set up initially to defend the whole of Ireland and protect the Island from invasion by Louis XIV of France and were entirely protestant. In Ulster, the volunteers achieved several famous victories but most significantly when they fought the ribbonmen at the battle of the Diamond. Later being replaced by the Orange militias and various other groups. Most of these groups were disbanded during Haldane's army reforms of 1907 which were designed to make the British military system both in Ireland and on the mainland more economical and efficient. By the time Lord Carson mobilised his Ulster Volunteer Force most of these smaller organisations had folded or were actively stood down.
There was however an organisation that did initially thrive during that period, the Belfast based Young Citizens Volunteers (YCV). Unlike the other organisations, the YCV was aimed at a younger generation with membership being open to young men aged between 18 and 35 years old. The thinking was that the interest generated by groups like the Boy Scouts or the Boys Brigade could be extended to a more military orientated organisation including effective use of arms. But not everyone could join. Using the class system that was prevalent in British society of the day, the expense of joining and maintaining membership, meant that only young professionals or those from well families could afford to join. The organisation was considered an elite grouping in the Belfast society at that time. Members had to be over five feet in height and present credentials of good character.
The YCV had its first meeting just prior to the signing of the Solemn League and Covenant (Ulster), in Belfast City Hall on the 10th of September, 1912. On the committee was Major Fred Crawford and the president was Robert James McMordie the then Lord Mayor of Belfast. Each member was to pay 2s.6d on joining the YCVs and a further 6d each month; he was to attend weekly drills to learn ‘modified military and police drill, single stick, rifle and baton exercises, signalling, knot-tying and other such exercises. If possible he was also to gain some knowledge of ‘life-saving and ambulance work’.
The objectives of the YCV were stated to be :- ".... to develop the spirit of responsible citizenship and municipal patriotism by means of lectures and discussions on civic matters.... to cultivate, by means of modified military and police drill, a manly physique, with habits of self control, self-respect and chivalry....to assist as an organisation, when called upon, the civil power in the maintenance of peace."
While Catholics did initially join, the membership became overwhelmingly protestant. The YCVs had planned to extend their membership further afield than Belfast, but growth was limited as a result of the membership fee and costly uniform which meant that most of the young men who made up the YCV came from fairly comfortable backgrounds. An application was made for financial assistance in return for the placing of the YCV at the government's disposal, but the YCVs were not recognised as a ‘territorial’ unit the application was refused. So by May 1914 with the gathering momentum of the Home Rule crisis and with many Young Citizens feeling betrayed by the government the majority of members stated they had a desire to join the UVF who by now were well armed and had a good reputation as a body of fighting men. The YCV organisation formally applied for membership of the UVF and became integrated as a brigade of the Belfast regiment.
On Saturday 6 June the Young Citizens marched to the Balmoral showgrounds with their new comrades, to be reviewed by Sir Edward Carson. A stream of people who had been thronging the Lisburn Road poured into the grounds when the gates opened at four o’clock and at 4.45 when the YCVs marched past a roar went up from the 25,000 strong crowd.