1950s - 1960s Ireland

Question 1

what is protectionism

Answer 1

when there were high charges on goods coming to Ireland to protect Irish businesses from foreign competition

Question 2

what combined to create high unemployment in the years after WW11

Answer 2

the irish businesses were badly run and there wasn’t a lot of money to invest in the economy

Question 3

why did many people emigrate during the 1950s

Answer 3

because there were very few jobs available which led to rural depopulation

Question 4

what is rural depopulation

Answer 4

where young people left rural areas to find work and increasingly only older people remained

Question 5

why was the government unable to tackle the problems Ireland faced

Answer 5

because after each election, a weak government of either Fianna Fáil or a coalition of parties was formed so no majority existed in the Dáil

Question 6

explain Seán Lemass’ early life and career

Answer 6

• born Dublin 1899
• fought in Rising and War of Independence
• one of founding member of Fianna Fáil
• served as Minister for Industry and Commerce and Minister for Supplies during WW11.
• became Taoiseach in 1959 after de Valera retired

Question 7

what were the aims of the First Programme for Economic Explansion

Answer 7

• free trade ( ireland would reduce charges on imports to encourage trade and reduce prices)
• encourage foreign investment ( taxes reduced on foreign companies set up in Ireland)
• grants to businesses and farmers ( to help them modernize and be more efficient)

Question 8

what was Lemass determined to change about Belfast and Dublin

Answer 8

the little contact they had

Question 9

who created the first programme for economic expansion

Answer 9

Seán Lemass and T.K. Whitaker

Question 10

what did Lemass do in 1965

Answer 10

he travelled to belfast to met the northern irish Prime minister ( Terence O’Neill)

Question 11

what did Lemass and O’Neill agree to cooperate on

Answer 11

tourism, education and agriculture

Question 12

when did Ireland join the United Nations

Answer 12

1955

Question 13

where did irish soldiers begin to serve

Answer 13

UN peacekeeping missions in Congo, Cyprus and the Middle East

Question 14

where did Ireland apply to join in 1961 and why

Answer 14

the European Economicl Community because Britain was joining also and Lemass believed they could gain new markets for Irish goods in Europe and grow the economy because Britain was Ireland’s largest export market.

Question 15

why did Ireland withdraw their application to join the EEC

Answer 15

because France stopped the British application because they feared that Britain was too close with the US

Question 16

when did Ireland and Britain eventually join the European Economic Community

Answer 16

1973

Question 17

when was Ireland’s opened marked and what marked it

Answer 17

it was marked in June 1963 when John F. Kennedy came to visit

Question 18

who did Lemass point as government ministers after leading Fianna Fáil to victory in the 1961 and 1965 general elections

Answer 18

Charlee Haughey, George Colley and Patrick Hillary

Question 19

why did Lemass resign in 1966

Answer 19

because he said it was time for the new generation to take over

Question 20

who took over when lemass resigned

Answer 20

Jack Lynch

Question 21

when did Seán Lemass die

Answer 21

1971

Question 22

what was the Broadcasting Authority Act

Answer 22

it set up an independent authority to run radio and television in Ireland

Question 23

when did Telefís Eireann launch

Answer 23

31 December 1961

Question 24

how did television change irish society over the following decades

Answer 24

• people saw shows from all around the world so they compared their lives to other peoples
• programmes like the Late Late Show discussed controversial topics and helped shift society’s attitudes
• people saw political leaders openly challenged for the first time

Question 25

why did Pope John XXII call the Second Vatican Council in 1962

Answer 25

to reform the Catholic Church and make it better suited to the modern world.

Question 26

what were the changed made to the catholic church

Answer 26

• mass was said to be in vernacular
• laypeople were given greater roles
• the bible was to be published in the vernacular
• Ecumenism sought more understanding and cooperation between the various different Churches

Question 27

who was the minister for education on 1966

Answer 27

Donogh O’Malley

Question 28

what did Donogh O’Malley want to do

Answer 28

he wanted to expand the educated workforce so that Ireland would be more attractive to foreign businesses

Question 29

what major reforms did O’Malley includ to the education system

Answer 29

• free schooling up to Junior Cert
• free transport for students to schools
• grants to build more schools
• Regional Technical Colleges were opened

Question 30

what was the impact of the reforms to the education system

Answer 30

• number of people sitting the Leaving Cert rose

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