Irish History 1973 - 1986 Flashcards
What was the aim of power sharing in 73-74
Reduce sectarianism
What were the agreements of power sharing in 1973?
Executive parliament for NI set up. Westminster controls security and justice. Power shared between Unionists and Nationalists. ROI government given a role in government of NI.
What were the Nationalist and Unionist opinions on Power Sharing?
Nationalists supportive Unionists divided (OUP support, UUUC opposed it)
When was Executive Membership announced?
21 November 1973, by William Whitelaw.
Who was the leader and deputy of power sharing executive?
Faulkner
Fitt
Who was invited to the Sunningdale Agreement?
British PM + secretary of state.
Taoiseach + Irish foreign minister
OUP, SDLP + Alliance
Who was not invited to the Sunningdale Agreement?
Anti-power sharing politicians. Ian Paisley (DUP) William Craig (Ulster Vanguard)
What were the 5 points agreed at the Sunningdale Agreement?
- London didn’t oppose United Ireland if majority
- Dublin accepted United Ireland only if majority
- Council of Ministers (NI + ROI)
- Consultative Ministry (Dail + Assembly elected)
- Later, Stormont controls internal security issues.
What were the 2 problems with the Sunningdale Agreement?
SDLP saw it as a creation of closer NI + ROI ties
Faulkner saw as token. Dublin accepts NI as UK.
When was the NI Power Sharing Executive set up?
What were the problems?
January 1974
UUC voted to reject Sunningdale Agreement
Faulkner resigned, replaced y Harry West.
What were the paramilitary reactions to the Sunningdale Agreement?
10 December 1973 - Loyalists created Ulster Army Council
IRA set off London bombs week before Christmas
What happened in the 1974 General Election
Labour in Parliament. Merlyn Rees secretary of state, mainly in Westminster, not NI. UWC strike. Unionists unsupportive.
What date was the UWC strike?
What were the aims?
What happened?
14 May 1974
Show level of Unionist opposition to Agreement.
Blackouts, road blocks.
How was the UWC strike shut down?
Attempted back to work demonstration, failed.
Loyalist Car bombs, 17 May in Monaghan + Dublin.
25 May, Wilson TV speech, “spongers”
28 May Faulkner resigned + power sharing ended
Strike ended 29 May
When was Special Category Status introduced and removed? What did it do?
1972 and 1976
Those convicted of crimes connected to the Troubles were treated as POW.
What were the Republican protests against the removal of Special Category Status? (3)
Blanket protest - wore blankets, not clothes
Dirty Protest 78 - Smeared cell walls w/ faeces.
Hunger Strike 81 - Nothing achieved. Stopped in December.
When did the 1981 Hunger Strikes begin? Who led it? How was it different? When was leader elected? When did leader die? When did it end?
1 March 1981 Bobby Sands Join at intervals, maximise length + impact 40th day strike to Westminster 5 May 3 October - 9 dead
What concessions were given to prisoners after the Hunger Strikes? (4)
Allowed to wear their own clothes
50% sentence reduction for prisoners
Greater number of prison visits
More association among prisoners allowed
What tactics did Sinn Fein operate under?
What was this strategy called?
Militant + Constitutional
The Ballot Box + The Armalite
What was the aftermath of the strikes?
Increased Nationalist alienation
Increased PIRA membership
What was Rolling Devolution?
What did the October 1982 elections show?
Election of assembly which would be given decision making power if cross-community support for power-sharing.
No Nationalist support. Dissolved in June 1986.
More Sinn Fein support.
Who was the new SDLP leader?
When was he appointed?
When was the INLA bomb + where?
John Hume. 1979
6 December 1982. 17 dead in Ballykelly
When was the New Ireland Forum established + by whom?
Who attended, and who didn’t?
May 1983, Dublin government. - Fitzgerald
Ireland’s constitutional parties
Unionists + Sinn Fein
What were the aims of the New Ireland Forum?
Improve relations with British government. Reduce Republican support by working with London
When was the New Ireland Forum’s report published, what did it say? (3)
May 1984.
- United Ireland achieved by agreement + consent
- Federal arrangement. North parliament w/ United Ireland
- London + Dublin responsible for NI
What were the reactions to the New Ireland Forum?
Unionists + Thatcher rejected it.
October 1984, PIRA tried to kill Thatcher.
When was the Anglo-Irish Agreement signed?
Who signed it?
Why was it signed?
15 November 1985
Thatcher + Fitzgerald
Improve security, reduce Nationalist alienation.
What were the points of the Anglo-Irish Agreement? (3)
- Intergovernmental Conference to deal with security, legal matters, political q’s + border cooperation
- Permanent secretariat. Power sharing. Support conference.
- Devolution occurred if power-sharing agreed.
What were the reactions to the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
Unionists rejected it (United Ireland)
Alliance supported
SDLP supported (Give role in creation)
Sinn Fein rejected it (Recognised existence of NI)
What were 6 Unionist tactics to show opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
- Marches to Anglo-Irish Secretariat HQ
- Protest rally at city hall, Nov ‘85. Paisley + OUP
- All Unionist MPs resigned + rejoined. 1 lost seat
- Protest, March ‘86. Caused standstill
- Shunned British ministers, refused to set rates + boycotted Westminster
- Loyalist violent against RUC. Nov ‘86 - Ulster Resistance formed
