British policies in Northern Ireland 1969-79

Question 1

Northern Ireland

Answer 1

1 million Protestants compared to 1/2 million Catholics in NI.
Protestants tended to monopolise the best jobs, schools and housing.
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association- founded in 1967. They condemn gerrymandering of elections in Ulster and demanded the disbanding of B-specials and a fair distribution of social and finical resources.
In October 1968, at a NICRA demonstration, there was violence, when the RUC (a protestant police force) charged at the marchers to break up what the authorities declared an illegal march.

Question 2

The troubles

Answer 2

Describes a cycle of violence, whose main feature was terrorist conflict between the nationalists and the unionists, with British troops sent to preserve the peace.

Question 3

British troops send to NI

Answer 3

1969.
In August 1969, Callahan send the British army into NI to keep the peace.
At first the troops were welcomed by the Catholic community.

Question 4

Internment

Answer 4

August 1971.
The continuing violent disruptions convinced Heath’s government that the situation could only be contained by internment: arresting suspected troublemakers and holding them without trial.
Aim was to remove the violent men from the communities.
It had the following results:
Increased tension in NI.
Feelings against Catholics that they were being persecuted.
Strained relations between the Irish government in Dublin and London.

Question 5

Bloody Sunday

Answer 5

1972. A prohibited civil rights march in Londonderry ended in carnage with 14 demonstrations being shot and killed by British troops.
      It convinced the Catholic population that the British government was hostile.

Question 6

The Sunningdale agreement

Answer 6

December 1973.
Agreed to form an executive which would govern NI on both behalf of the Catholic and Protestant communities.
First time since 1921 that Catholics had been offered a share in government.
Frightened many unionists.
General situation deteriorated: violence continued on the streets, with frequent IRA attacks on the police and army.

Question 7

Labour and NI (1974-79)

Answer 7

In May 1974, only 3 months after he had taken office, Ulster was paralysed by a massive 15 day strike organised by the pro-Paisley Ulster Workers Council in protest of the Sunningdale agreement.
In response to this, many who had previously supported the Sunningdale agreement, declared that it was no longer workable.
Power sharing seemed dead in the water.

Question 8

Nationalists/ Republican groups

Answer 8

SDLP
IRA (Irish Republican army.) Dedicated to the creation, through violence, of an all Irish republic.
INLA
Sinn Fein 
Wanted a united Ireland

Question 9

Unionists/ Loyalists

Answer 9

Official unionists
DUP (democratic unionist party.) Broken away from the official unionists in 1971.)
UVF
Wanted to remain part of the UK.

Question 10

Key stages in the struggle for development

Answer 10

British troops sent in August 1969.
Internment introduced in August 1971.
Bloody Sunday in 1972.
Birmingham pub bombings- November 1974. 21 people killed with 180 injured.
Prevention of terrorism act, November 1974. Gave the police and authorities considerably extended powers of search and arrest.