Early Northern Ireland Flashcards
Home rule bill
Home Rule had been on the political agenda since the late 19th Century. The third Home Rule Bill of 1912 proposed a limited self-government in Dublin under the supreme authority of the British government.
The passing of the bill would have resulted in the Unionist minority, who had dominated Ireland financially and politically, losing their power. Ireland would become dominated by the Nationalist majority.
Nationalist leader John Dillon’s statement “No concession for Ulster, Ulster must follow” only served to heighten Unionist fears about their fate in this proposed government.
The 3rd Home Rule Bill, 1912 was passed by the House of Commons but voted down in the House of Lords - the veto only lasted two years, meaning that in 1914 the Bill would be enacted and Home Rule would be granted.
The reactions of home rule
In Spetember 1912, in response to the Third Home Rule Bill, 500,000 Unionists met in Belfast under the leadership of Edward Carson. They signed the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant which stated that Unionists would do everything in their power to resist Home Rule. Ulster Unionists also formed and openly trained a military group - the UVF in 1912.
In response, Nationalists established the IV. Both sides armed themselves with the Howth and Larne Gun-runnings.
As the Third Home Rule Bill dragged its way through Parliament, Ireland sat on the verge of civil war. The situation exacerbated by British officers in the Curragh Mutiny stating they would resign before firing on Unionists.
WW1 delayed the civil war, temporarily shelving the Home Rule crisis and uniting Unionists and Nationalists in the war effort.
The state of Northern Ireland 1920 - 1963
The state of NI came into being in 1920 with the Government of Ireland Act. Before this, Ireland was one ruled by Britain.
The government of Ireland act divided Ireland into 2
A 26 county Southern Ireland (it was originally called the Irish free state but later became the Republic of Ireland.
A six county Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland had its own parliament and could make its own laws. But it was still apart of the United Kingdom
How did the unionists feel about Northern Ireland
Unionists were mostly positive.
They were pleased at the setting up of Northern Ireland as they wanted to stay united with Britain.
As Protestants were in a majority in the new state, this meant that they could control the government.
Extreme unionists are called loyalists.
How did this affect the unionists thinking?
Unionists felt that nationalists could not be trusted because they did not want to be apart of Northern Ireland.
Because they did not trust nationalists they did not think nationalists should have the power to influence government decisions.
How did nationalists feel about Northern Ireland.
Nationalists are mostly catholic.
They are not pleased at the setting up of the new state as they had wanted to be part of a United, independent Ireland.
As Catholics were in a minority they felt that they had little power to influence government decisions.
Extreme nationalists are called republicans.
How did this affect the nationalists thinking?
Nationalists felt they had no reason to be loyal to a state where they had very limited political power and that they had never wanted to belong to.
What did the unionist government do to ensure the keeping of political power.
In 1922, the Northern Ireland government brought in the special powers act, which allowed it to arrest and detain suspects without holding a trail. The majority of those detained were nationalists.
Changes were made to electoral boundaries to ensure unionists control of local councils, even when the majority of the people living in these areas were nationalists. This is called gerrymandering.
Only people who paid rates could vote in local elections. Also the amount of votes a person could have depended on the amount of rates paid, up to seven max. Since Protestants, on the whole, tended to be wealthier, this mean they had more votes.
What other ways were Catholics discriminated in?
Catholics were given fewer houses than Protestants by unionist controlled councils as owner ship of houses gave a vote in local elections.
Catholics were less likely to have a job than Protestants.
Relations with Southern Ireland
It was never good.
In 1937, constitution with Southern Ireland declared that the north and south of Ireland should be one country
Between 1956 and 1962 the IRA launched a campaign of attacks on border areas.even though the campaign failed because northern nationalists did not support it, the unionist government still felt that northern Catholics could not be trusted.
