O’neill Years 1963-69

Question 1

Who was O’Neill

Answer 1

Leader of the official unionist party (OUP)

Question 2

When was O’Neill voted the new PM of NI

Answer 2

1963

Question 3

How many aims did O’Neill have

Answer 3

3

Question 4

What were O’Neill‘s 3 MAIN aims

Answer 4

Improving the economy

Improving community relations

Improving relations between NI and the republic

Question 5

Was unemployment a problem in NI

Answer 5

Yes it was

Catholics : 17.8%

Protestants : 6.6%

Question 6

6 examples of O’Neill work to improve the economy

Answer 6

New public housing

New university set up in colreine

5 special economic zones where made

M1 was built

Government invest 900 million into the economy

New hospital built

Question 7

Why did nationalists not approve of the new university

Answer 7

It should of been set up in the mixed city London-Derry rather than in the unionist town of colreine

Question 8

Why did nationalists not like the new town craigavon

Answer 8

It was named after a unionist prime minister

Question 9

Why did nationalists not like the new factories being built

Answer 9

They were often built around Belfast (east NI) and many nationalists lived in the west so missed out on these jobs

Question 10

4 ways O’Neill tried to improve relations with northern nationalists

Answer 10

He offered condolences when Pope John XXIII died in 1963.

Increased funding for catholic hospitals i.e. Belfast mater hospital

Promised reform in voting system, housing, education

Carried out symbolic gestures such as visiting catholic schools and other institutions such as hospitals

Question 11

A piece of evidence to show that nationalists were prepared to support O’neills work

Answer 11

The visit of lemass to Stormont was followed by the decision to the nationalist party to take up the ‘official opposition’ in stormont for the first time in history

Question 12

What influences caused young, well educated nationalists to demain more from o’neills work

Answer 12

International influences like the civil rights for Blacks campaign in America, this successful campaign alongside other international movements in France, Germany and Israel served to encourage younger, well educated NI catholics and nationalists to try and achieve reform

Question 13

What type of unionist supported o’neills work

Answer 13

The moderate unionist

Question 14

What unionist leader disagreed with o’neills work

Answer 14

Ian Paisley

Question 15

Why did Ian paisley not support o’neills work

Answer 15

Didn’t like the catholic faith

Worried o’neills support for nationalists could lead to a United Ireland

Question 16

What did Ian paisley to try and stop O’Neill

Answer 16

He and his followers threw snowballs at Sean lemass during his visit to stormont

He formed a ulster constitution defence committee and encouraged ulster Protestant volunteers to resist o’neills reforms and went to prison for refusing to pay a fine for riotous behaviour

Question 17

One of O’Neills OUP colleagues who thought his policies were too liberal

Answer 17

Harry west

Question 18

What proved that O’Neill was aware that he didn’t have full support of his OWN party

Answer 18

In September 1965, there was an attempt to displace O’Neill involving half the unionist MPs at stormont

Question 19

What did O’Neill hope would happen if he improved the relations with NI and the Republic of Ireland

Answer 19

He hoped it would improve both NI’s economy and the republic’s economy and boost his support from the nationalist community in NI

Question 20

Who were the two Irish PMs to meet O’Neill

Answer 20

Sean Lemass: Jan 1965
Jack Lynch: Dec 1967

Question 21

Why was the meeting between O’Neill and Lemass symbolic

Answer 21

First meeting between Irelands main leaders in 40 years of the state existing

Question 22

What agreements were reached to improve relations between the two states after Lemass and O’Neills meeting

Answer 22

To supply electricity from the south and moves were started to cooperate in tourism but never discussed a United ireland

Question 23

What were nationalists reaction to O’Neills efforts to improve relations between the north and south

Answer 23

Supported his work to improve relations with the republic

Question 24

What were unionists reaction to O’Neills efforts to improve relations between the north and south

Answer 24

-Didn’t want closer ties with republic as they feared the reforms might undermine the position of unionism in NI

-they feared that if ties grew stronger that a United ireland could happen

Question 25

Why did Unionists not want a United ireland

Answer 25

Felt British not Irish

Felt as thought they’d become a minority and face discrimination eg: in religion and politics