Northern Ireland Flashcards

Question

Which leader did Heath back?

Answer 1

Heath backed Brian Faulkner, the UUP leader and leader of the Belfast government. He introduced night-time curfews and the introduction of internment in 1971. 95% of those interned were Catholic between 1971 and 1975.

Answer 2

It was 'among the best recruiting tools the IRA ever had'.

Answer 3

As an enemy occupying power.

Answer 4

Bloody Sunday - where 26 unarmed civilians were shot and 13 were killed on the day, one later died of injuries. This happened as the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association organised a protest against internment. Attempts to control the march resulted in British soldiers firing live ammunition.

Answer 5

The British Embassy in Dublin was burned down. Support for the IRA grew as they were able to raise funds in the United States.

Answer 6

It was the bloodiest year of the troubles: 1382 explosions, 10.628 shooting incidents and 480 deaths.

Answer 7

He suspended Stormont, bringing in direct rule from Westminster and appointed Willie Whitelaw as secretary of state.

Answer 8

He tried not only to defeat the IRA, but look for a permanent political solution that would ensure peace. This led to negotiations with the main Northern Irish political parties. In 1973, Heath and Whitelaw negotiated the Sunningdale Agreement, a complex plan for a power-sharing government with the support of the SDLP, the Alliance and the leadership of the UUP.

Answer 9

-A power-sharing executive with both nationalists ahd unionists - both guaranteed representation. -A new Northern Ireland Assembly elected with a system of STV. -A Council of Ireland that would have some input from the Republic of Ireland.

Answer 10

Extremists from both sides denounced it as a sell-out. Both the UVF and UDA were opposed. The UUP voted to pull out in January 1974 and Brian Faulkner was replaced as leader of the UUP by Harry West, opposed the agreement.

Answer 11

-The miner strikes and the February 1974 election caused instability. -Anti-Sunningdale parties put up one candidate in each constituency, but pro-Sunningdale votes were split. -Eleven of twelve constituencies returned candidates opposed to Sunningdale. -Concern about Sunningdale meant the Conservatives could not support the UUP for continuing in government.

Answer 12

The council, set up by shipyard worker, Harry Murray, determined to bring down the executive. They announced a strike on the 15th May. This severely limited power and telecommunications and the government issued a state of emergency. Within 2 weeks, Faulkner resigned and Wilson was forced to reimpose direct rule. Sunningdale had collapsed. The Troubles continued.

Answer 13

The establishment of a Northern Irish Constitution Convention, an elected body to determine the future of Northern Ireland.

Answer 14

Elections in July 1975 resulted in a majority for unionists, opposed to power-sharing. An agreement with nationalists was not possible and The Convention was dissolved in 1976.

Answer 15

It was removed from terrorist prisoners, meaning they weren't considered political prisoners but criminals.

Answer 16

Paramilitaries thought they were involved in a war and opposed it. As prisoners, they had to wear the prison uniform. Their refusal led to the 'blanket protest', by INLA and IRA prisoners where prisoners were either naked or wore only blankets. This became the 'Dirty Protest' after 1978. Republican prisoners alleging ill treatment by prison guards refused to leave their cells. This meant they were unable to 'slop out' and instead smeared excrement on the walls. By 1979, over 250 prisoners were taking part im the protest and demands were growing for them to regain their political status.

Answer 17

July 1982 - Hyde Park bombings in London - 11 soldiers killed by the IRA. December 1982 - Droppin Well bomb, Ballykelly, N Ireland - 11 soldiers and 6 civillians killed by INLA. December 1983 - Harrods, London - 6 killed by IRA. October 1984 - Brighton bomb at Conservative Party Conference - 5 killed by IRA. February 1985 - 9 RUC officers killed by an IRA mortar attack in Newry. May 1987 - 8 IRA volunteers and 1 civillian shot by SAS. November 1987 - Remembrance Day bomb, Enniskillen, N Ireland - 12 killed by IRA.

Answer 18

She had strong unionist sympathies and was determined not to give into terrorism. She faced crisis over Special Category Status by IRA prisoners held in H-Block of the Maze prison, Belfast. They wanted to be treated as political prisoners.

Answer 19

In 1980, led by Bobby Sands, the prisoners didn't eat at all as a protest for not having Special Category Status.

Answer 20

Sinn Féin, the political wing of the IRA, put forward Bobby Sands in the by-election as the Anti-H-Block candidate and won, despite being in prison. A few weeks later he died. Nine more hunger strikers died before the protest was called off in October 1981.

Answer 21

Thatcher thought they had been beaten since she didn't give in to their demands. Many saw the increased sympathy and support as a victory as strikers became republican heroes. Both unionists and republicans hardened their stances.

Answer 22

Electoral success in the by-election mean Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin, saw advantages to using the 'ballot box and the gun' as a twin-track strategy and Sinn Féin became more focused on winning seats.

Answer 23

The IRA exploded a bomb at the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party Conference. The main target, Thatcher, was unhurt but five people were killed. There was national outrage.

Answer 24

Despite an image of never negotiating with terrorists, secret contacts were available with go-betweens.

Answer 25

The Anglo-Irish Agreement, signed at Hillsborough. This set up permanent intergovernmental co-operation between the UK and Ireland. The Conservatives hoped this would strengthen security co-operation between the two countries, also aiming to strengthen moderates nationalists against Sinn Féin, supported by the SDLP and Alliance.

Answer 26

Republicans opposed it as it confirmed Northern Ireland was part of the UK. As Hillsborough gave the Republic of Ireland an advisory role in the North, there was furious loyalist and unionist backlash.

Answer 27

200,000 people attended a protest rally where DUP leader, Ian Paisley, said: 'Where do the terrorists operate from? From the Irish Republic! Where do the terrorists return to for sanctuary? To the Irish Republic! And yet Mrs Thatcher tells us that the Republic must have some say in our Province. We say never, never, never, never!' A new unionist paramilitary, Ulster Resistance, was set up in 1986 and there was a series of atrocities on both sides. There seemed to be no way out of the cycle of violence and retaliation.