11 Downing Street Declaration 1993 & Good Friday Agreement

Question 1

When was it signed?

Answer 1

15th December 1993

Question 2

Key terms of Downing Street (2)

Answer 2

• nationalists were told that ‘every citizen of NI is entitled to the same quality of treatment and freedom from discrimination as exists in the rest of the U.K. irrespective of political views or religion
• unionists were told that Northern Ireland should not cease to be a part of the U.K. without the consent of a majority in NI

Question 3

British government reaction to the declaration

Answer 3

• Sinn Fein Must end violence for good before the government would hold talks with Sinn Fein
• They hoped to win unionist support by having the Taoiseach accept that united Ireland required a majority consent in NI

Question 4

UUP reaction to the declaration (2)

Answer 4

• wanted confirmation that the joint declaration means that there will not be a United ireland without majority consent
• Or give Sinn Fen an immediate place at the talks table

Question 5

DUP reaction to the declaration

Answer 5

• Paisley agreed that in three months if IRA disarmed themselves without conditions then they could be invited as politicians to enter talks with the British government

Question 6

SDLP reaction to declaration

Answer 6

• Hume hoped that the declaration would end the gun violence and bombing in Ireland and NI

Question 7

Paramilitaries reaction to declaration

Answer 7

• PIRA announced their ceasefire on 31st August 1994

- Loyalists announced ceasefire on 13th October 1994

Question 8

What was the Hume-Adams Initiative ? (2)

Answer 8

• Hume (SDLP) believed that peace would be achieved if the IRA we’re persuaded to give us their weapons and work through SF
• Hume said that the British government needed to make it possible for IRA to give up their guns

Question 9

How long did the Hume-Adams talks last?

Answer 9

Eight months, ending in August 1988

Question 10

What happened when the Hume-Adams talks became public ?

Answer 10

• They issue a joint statement on 25th September 1993 saying that the Hume-Adams initiative “aimed at the creation of a peace process”

Question 11

Good Friday Agreement key terms: (3)

Answer 11

Strand One : a new NI Assembly was set up with 108 members elected by proportional representation

• A north/South Council was set up to discuss cross-border co-operation on issues such as farming, tourism, trade and health
• A British/Irish Council was set up containing members of all parliaments and assemblies in the U.K. to discuss co-operation on farming, energy, drugs

Question 12

Deadline to agree on a settlement :

Answer 12

Midnight 9th April 1998

Question 13

Unionist reactions to the Good Friday Agreement (2)

Answer 13

• The DUP And UKUP hadn’t been a part of the talks, showing their opposition to the agreement
• May 1998 Anti-Agreement unionists set up a campaign to oppose it

Question 14

Nationalist reactions to the Good Friday Agreement (2)

Answer 14

• SDLP supported it

- Sinn Fein supported it and altered its constitution to allow members to stand in elections to a NI Assembly

Question 15

Other significant elements to the Good Friday Agreement ?

Answer 15

• Irish government undertook to renounce it’s constitutional claims to NI
• London agreed to replace the 1920 government of Ireland act

Question 16

When were the referendums held on both sides of the border ?

Answer 16

22nd May 1998

Question 17

Results of the referendum

Answer 17

71.12 % of those who voted indicated their support for the agreement

Question 18

Results of election for nationalists and unionists

Answer 18

97% of nationalists gave the agreement their support while the figure of unionism stood at 52%