NICRA Flashcards
When was NICRA set up
1967
3 leaders of NICRA
Paddy, Delvin, Eamon McCan, Michael Farrell
Members of NICRA
Nationalists
Moderate unionists
Trade unions
How did MLK influence NICRA to be created
His campaign for US civil rights gave NICRA belief that they could campaign for equality of nationalists and unionists
How did JFK influence NICRA to be created
First Roman Catholic president - gave nationalists confidence that they could change things
How did French student demonstrations in 1968 influence NICRA to be created
Gave NICRA a example of a tactic to follow
The fact that university educated nationalists how did that influence NICRA to be created
They wanted to not face job discrimination after uni and felt that the unionist party was too slow to bring change in stormont
7 NICRA aims
- end discrimination in jobs, housing, voting
- one man one vote
- fair allocation of council houses
- end gerrymandering
- end discrimination in Govt jobs
- remove B specials
- end special powers act
- establish a formal complaints procedure
Why did NICRA want one man one vote
Would stop 7 votes given to businesses which discriminated against nationalists
Why did NICRA want fair allocation of council houses
Unionists controlled most councils and so more unionists than nationalists got the houses
Why did NICRA want an end to gerrymandering
Votes were rigged/ biased against nationalists
Why did NICRA want a end to discrimination in GOVT jobs
Favourism towards Protestants / unionists in allocation of GOVTjobs
Why did NICRA want to remove the B specials
Part of RUC who discriminated against nationalists
Why did NICRA want to end the special powers act
Because the act allowed GOVT to arrest and detain people without trial and the government would be biased against nationalists
Why did NICRA want to establish a formal complaints procedure
Against local authorities to report breaches in all of their other aims
3 reasons why unionists opposed NICRA
- some felt that it was simply intending on causing trouble and was just a front for the IRA
- some believed it was only interested in Catholic rights and would undermine position of Protestants
- some, thought NICRA wanted a United ireland, thus wanting to continue the existence of NI so opposed NICRA
What was the March in August 1968 in protest of
Housing discrimination
Where was the March in August 1968
Coalisland and Dungannon
What was stormonts and the RUC’S reaction to the August 1968 March
Allowed it to go ahead
What was the outcome of the August 1968 March
Peaceful protest
What was the reason for the October 1968 March
Housing discrimination
Where was the October 1968 March held
L’derry
What was stormont’s and the RUC’s reaction to the October 1968 March
Banned it along with the rival march by the apprentice boys
What was the outcome of the October 1968 march
NICRA held the illegal march. RUC and marches fought each other. Images were captured by RTE TV crews and it damaged reputations of stormont and the RUC.
When was O’Neills 5 point reform programme issued
The reforms were issued in November 1968
What was the aim of the 5 reforms
To stop NICRA protesting
What were the 5 reforms
(Allocation,replacement,removal,reforms,appointment.)
-allocation of council houses on a points system
-replacement of Londonderry corporation by a development commission (stop gerrymandering)
-removal of some of the parts of the special powers act
-reforms within local governments, including the end of extra votes for business owners
-appointment of a ombudsman to investigate complaints
What two reforms weren’t granted
Didn’t fully get one man one vote and didn’t remove parts of the special powers act
What was NICRAs first reaction to the reforms
To keep marching to get the last two reforms granted
Why didn’t NICRA support the reforms
They wanted the last two reforms as well
How did O’Neill try to win over NICRA
He appealed to them on TV I’m December 1968
Why did the unionists not like the reforms
Felt as though they opposed concessions to the threat of violence and felt their position was under threat
What OUP minister got sacked for opposing O’Neills work
William Craig
Why was people’s democracy (PD) set up
Show support to NICRA
Win the final two reforms
To oppose stormont
2 leaders of the PD (people’s democracy)
Michael Farrell
Bernadette Devlin
6 aims of PD
-one man one vote
- fair boundaries
-houses on need
-jobs on merit
-free speech
-repeal of the special powers act
Tactics of the PD
Held confrontational marches in unionist areas
When did the Burntollet bridge incident occur
January 1969
What happened at the burntollet incident
PD marches were ambushed by unionists and the RUC allegedly didn’t stop the ambush
What was the RUC labelled after the burntollet bridge incident
Labelled as biased against nationalists (guilty of discrimination). Reputation was damaged because of the march
Why did NICRA criticise the PD after the burntollet bridge
Because the PD provoked violence
What was NICRAs reaction the the burntollet bridge incident
Began to march again eg: Newry
What did O’Neill do after the burntollet bridge accident
O’Neill set up a Cameron commission to investigate the incident, In FEB 1969 a general election was called to check the support of his work
What happened with the OUP after the burntollet bridge incident
In JAN 1969 12 MP’s wanted O’Neill (their PM/leader) sacked.
When did o’neill hold his crossroads election
FEB 1969
Why did O’Neill have to resign
Not enough nationalists voted for his aims
O’Neills chief unionist critic (Paisley) stood against him and nearly won O’Neills seat
When did O’Neill resign
April 1969, he blamed his resignation on UVF bombings
Who was O’Neill replaced by
Chichester Clark
