Heath And Northen Ireland Flashcards
What were the key problems Heath inherited in Northern Ireland in 1970?
Sectarian violence, political instability, and the British Army struggling to maintain peace in Belfast.
What political party was closely linked with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)?
The Conservative and Unionist Party.
What was internment and when was it introduced?
Locking up suspects without trial, introduced in 1971.
What was the impact of internment on the Catholic community?
It alienated Catholics as they made up 95% of those interned between 1971 and 1975, leading to increased IRA support.
What did IRA commander Jim McVeigh say about internment?
It was “among the best recruiting tools the IRA ever had.”
What happened on Bloody Sunday (30th January 1972)?
British soldiers shot 26 unarmed Catholic civilians during a protest march; 13 were killed.
How did the Catholic community react after Bloody Sunday?
They saw the British presence as foreign military occupation, worsening the situation.
What was the effect of Bloody Sunday on IRA support?
It increased support for the IRA, including international backing and funding.
What was the bloodiest year of the Troubles and what were the stats?
1972 – 1382 explosions, 10,628 shootings, and 480 deaths.
What did Heath do in response to the crisis in 1972?
Suspended Stormont Parliament and imposed Direct Rule from Westminster.
Who was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 1972?
Willie Whitelaw.
What was the aim of the Sunningdale Agreement (1973)?
To find a permanent political solution to the Troubles with a power-sharing government.
What did the Sunningdale Agreement propose?
A power-sharing executive of Nationalists and Unionists
• A new Northern Ireland Assembly
• A Council of Ireland with input from the Republic
Why was the Sunningdale Agreement opposed?
Extremists on both sides (Catholic Republicans and Protestant Loyalists) saw it as a sell-out to their rivals.
What was the Ulster Workers’ Council Strike (1974)?
A loyalist-organised strike opposing power-sharing, disrupting businesses and causing economic issues.
Who supported the Ulster Workers’ Council Strike?
Politicians like Ian Paisley and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).
What tactics were used during the UWC strike?
Roadblocks, flying pickets, fuel and power shortages, and attacks on Catholic civilians.
What caused the collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement?
The resignation of key supporters like Brian Faulkner due to the UWC strike and lack of British negotiation.
What happened on 29th May 1974?
The strike was called off and people returned to work; the Sunningdale Agreement collapsed.
What followed the collapse of Sunningdale?
Direct Rule from Westminster remained in place until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
What major distractions did Heath face during the Northern Ireland crisis?
1972 National Union of Miners strikes
• 1973 OPEC Energy Crisis
• Three-Day Week
• 1974 General Election (“Who Governs Britain?”)
