NICRA and 5 Point Reforms

Question 1

What does NICRA stand for?

Answer 1

Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association

Question 2

when was NICRA set up?

Answer 2

1967

Question 3

who were the leaders of NICRA?

Answer 3

Paddy Devlin, Eamonn McCann and Michael Farrell

Question 4

name a key influence on NICRA and their similarities

Answer 4

American civil rights movement led by MLK Jr

similarities - placards, marching, peaceful protest, singing

Question 5

name the other influences on NICRA

Answer 5

French student demonstrations 1968
JFK becoming US President (1st RC)
New generation of university-educated Nationalists
Nationalist party at Stormont hadn’t done much work

Question 6

What were NICRA’s aims?

Answer 6

One man, One vote
end gerrymandering
end special powers act
end 'B' specials
fair allocation of council houses
fair allocation of govt. jobs
create a formal complaints procedure

Question 7

NICRA was a ____ organisation

Answer 7

divisive

Question 8

who were NICRA’s supporters?

Answer 8

nationalist community
moderate unionists
trade unions

Question 9

who were NICRA’s opponents?

Answer 9

many unionists - thought they were the IRA in disguise, thought they discriminated against working class Unionists, thought their secret 8th aim was a United Ireland

Question 10

give the dates of two of NICRA’s marches

Answer 10

24th August 1968

5th October 1968

Question 11

why did NICRA march on 24th August 1968?

Answer 11

decision of Dungannon rural district council to give a council house in Caledon to a 19 year old Protestant woman rather than a Nationalist family

Question 12

why did NICRA march on 5th October 1968?

Answer 12

to highlight seeming inequalities in Derry’s corporation’s housing policy

Question 13

what was the reaction to NICRA’s 24th August 1968 march?

Answer 13

Nationalist MP Austin Currie squatted in the house and suggested holding a protest march

Question 14

what was the reaction to NICRA’s 5th October 1968 march?

Answer 14

RUC banned march due to Unionist Apprentice Boys the same day to prevent conflict

Question 15

what was the outcome of NICRA’s 24th August 1968 march?

Answer 15

demonstration was prevented from entering Dungannon town centre by police - alternative rally at police barricade

Question 16

what was the outcome of NICRA’s 5th October 1968 march?

Answer 16

4 MPs appeared at the march with RTÉ camera crew, showing the world the heavy-handed tactics by the police.

Question 17

When were the 5 point reforms issued?

Answer 17

22nd November 1968

Question 18

what were the aims of the 5 point reforms?

Answer 18

to try and end discrimination in jobs, housing, voting and society

Question 19

what were the 5 point reforms?

Answer 19

allocation of council housing on a points system
replacement of Londonderry corporation with a Development Commission
removal of parts of the Special Powers Act
reforms within local government including the ending of extra votes for business owners
the appointment of an ombudsman to investigate complaints

Question 20

what were the two NICRA reforms not granted in the 5 point reforms?

Answer 20

one man, one vote and disband the ‘B’ Specials

Question 21

how did NICRA react to the 5 point reforms?

Answer 21

they weren’t initially happy as they hadn’t fulfilled all of their wishes. They protested against it.

Question 22

how did unionists react to the 5 point reforms?

Answer 22

they didn’t like them because they thought they favoured the nationalist community

Question 23

How did O’Neill face opposition from the government after the 5 point reforms?

Answer 23

Home Affairs Minister William Craig - condemned speech and argued the PM was acting under pressure from the British. Craig was fired