Problems in NI 1920-1925: Nationalist non-cooperation

Question 1

Craig’s attempts to include Catholics

Answer 1

Craig had tried to encourage Catholics to join the RUC and government but was forced to give up for 2 reasons:

> Catholics were not cooperating
The Protestant majority was in “siege mentality” (Harkness) and force Craig to stop eet

Question 2

Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry City

Answer 2

12 Nationalist NI-MPs were being non-cooperative by not attending the parliament, and 3 councils in these regions refused to recognize the state; the unionist government therefore:

> suspended local councils
had re-elections of councils without PR and with gerrymandered constitutiencies so that the Unionists had a majority on all of them and could keep them functioning (Local Government Act 1922 did this)

Question 3

Craig’s role

Answer 3

Craig, having been at the forefront of Ulster Unionism for over 2 decades now was forced to continue this role if he wanted to stay in power

Question 4

View of James Lichfield serving in the government

Answer 4

Craig was the only unionist worthwhile at the time; if he lost power the situation in NI would only get worse.

Question 5

Joe Devlin and 1925

Answer 5

In 1925 Joe Devlin led his supporters in the NI Parliament closely followed by those at the border; this solved the nationalist cooperation problem.

Question 6

Jackson’s view on political reform

Answer 6

“A kind of bureaucratic Derry’s walls”