O'Neill's Resignation and Downing St Declarations

Question 1

what happened on 24th February 1969?

Answer 1

O’Neill held his election hoping to win cross-community support for his reforms. the result didn’t help him do this.
Nationalists didn’t vote for O’Neill, and he nearly lost his seat as he only polled 1400 votes more than Ian Paisley

Question 2

When did O’Neill resign?

Answer 2

28th April 1969

Question 3

who succeeded O’Neill as prime minister/

Answer 3

Major James Chichester-Clark

Question 4

why did O’Neill resign as NI’s Pm?

Answer 4

his OUP didn’t support him fully
Nationalists didn’t support him sully
Unionists were worried by his reforms
Violence on Northern Ireland’s streets

Question 5

Why did the OUP not support O’Neill fully?

Answer 5

wanted Brian Faulkner to be PM
September 1966 O’Neill revealed a plot by OUP backbenchers to get rid of him
Opposition by Deputy PM Brian Faulkner, Agriculture Minister Harry West and Home Affairs Minister William Craig

Question 6

Why did the nationalists not support O’Neill fully?

Answer 6

set up second uni in Coleraine
built city of Craigavon
led companies over to east of the Bann
didn’t grant all of NICRA’s aims

Question 7

Why did unionists not support O’Neill fully?

Answer 7

visited cardinal conway, leader of RC church
offered condolences on Pope John XXIII’s death
increased financial support and visited catholic schools and hospitals
held meeting with 2 Irish Taoiseach - lead to a UI
worried he was favouring Nationalists

Question 8

Why did O’Neill resign because of violence on NI’s streets?

Answer 8

confrontational marches by PD
ambushes by ‘B’ Specials - Burntollet Bridge
RUC violence against NICRA in Derry 5th Oct 1968
Loyalist UVF bombings April 1969

Question 9

What happened July-August 1969?

Answer 9

Belfast house burnings
Battle of the Bogside
Deployment of British army to NI
Downing St Declarations

Question 10

describe the Belfast House Burnings

Answer 10

mostly by loyalists, people forced to leave their homes
Nationalists burned out of their homes in E Belfast
Unionists burned out of their homes in S Belfast

Question 11

describe the Battle of the Bogside

Answer 11

began after annual apprentice boys parade
lasted for 50 hours
involved Nationalists and the RUC

Question 12

when was the Battle of the bogside?

Answer 12

12th August 1969

Question 13

How did ROI react to the Battle of the Bogside?

Answer 13

Jack Lynch issued a statement and deployed Irish troops and moved field hospitals to the border

Question 14

what was Britain’s solution to NI’s street violence?

Answer 14

send in the british army 14-15 August 1969

Downing Street Declarations 19th August 1969

Question 15

what were both sides promised in the Downing Street Declarations?

Answer 15

nationalists promised equality and unionists promised no United Ireland without a vote

Question 16

what were the 5 granted NICRA reforms in the Downing St Declarations?

Answer 16

1 man 1 vote
end gerrymandering
fair allocation of council houses
fair allocation of government jobs
community relations ministry

Question 17

what did the Hunt Report recommend?

Answer 17

disarming the RUC

disbanding the ‘B’ Specials and replacing them with the Ulster Defense Regiment - part time force under army control

Question 18

what was the Scarman Tribunal?

Answer 18

investigated July 1969 violence in Belfast

Question 19

how did Nationalists react to the Downing St Declarations?

Answer 19

nationalists supported them becasue they benefitted them - NICRA reports and Hunt report

Question 20

how did Unionists react to the Downing St Declarations?

Answer 20

worried about the reforms - thought they benefitted Nationalists too much (NICRA reforms and hunt report)
protested with extreme loyalist violence on the Shankill Road