3 Emergence Of People's Democracy

Question 1

Members?

Answer 1

Mainly university students

Question 2

Why was it set up? (3)

Answer 2

• emerged out of anger at the violence NICRA had faced
• desire to disrupt the Stormont administration
• unhappy with the limited nature of O’Neill’s five point reform programme

Question 3

Leaders?

Answer 3

Michael Farrell and Bernadette Devlin

Question 4

Aims? (6) (similar to NICRA)

Answer 4

• one man one vote
• fair boundaries
• houses on need
• jobs on merit
• free speech
• repeal of the Special Powers Act

Question 5

Tactics of the PD

Answer 5

Confrontational marches

Question 6

Did NICRA and nationalist leaders condemn the march between Belfast and Derry that the PD were planning to have?

Answer 6

Yes, they feared its impact on an already tense situation

Question 7

Describe the PD ambush at Burntollet (3)

Answer 7

Date: 1-4th January 1969
Where: between Belfast and Derry. Much of the march was to go through Protestant areas, forcing the police to enforce different routes to avoid confrontation.
Result: On the 3rd day confrontation occurred as the marchers were targeted in a violent ambush at Burntollet Bridge, an attack the police did little to deflect. Tensions were further raised in Derry / Londonderry when police rampaged through nationalist areas of the city

Question 8

NICRA reaction to Burntollet

Answer 8

• NICRA had called off it’s marches in response to O’Neill’s Reforms, but began to march again because they believed the events in the north-west showed that nothing had changed