problems of Northern Ireland

Question 1

as well as the economic, political, and industrial problems that Wilson’s government inherited in 1974, what were continuing?

Answer 1

the Northern Irish Troubles

Question 2

The Ulster’s Workers Council strike -when

Answer 2

14 may 1974

Question 3

who was the Ulster Workers’ council strike supported by ?

Answer 3

politicians such as Ian Paisley as well as UDA and UVF
-paramilitary organisation ensured that the strike was supported by unionists, and at the same time set off bombs in the Republic of Ireland + attacked catholic civilians in Northern Ireland

Question 4

what happened on 17 may 1974

Answer 4

loyalist car bomb kills 26 in Dublin and 7 in Monaghan

Question 5

when does the Sunningdale agreement collapse?

Answer 5

28 may 1974

Question 6

November 1974

Answer 6

Birmingham pub bomb kills 19

Question 7

Although the Heath government had negotiated the Sunningdale agreement with the UUP, the SDLP and the Alliance what happened?

Answer 7

both loyalists and republicans were opposed and the UUP were turning against it

Question 8

The Ulster Worker’s council was set up by?

Answer 8

shipyard worker, Harry Murray and it was determined to bring down the Executive

Question 9

when did the uslter worker council announce a strike?

Answer 9

on 15 may 1974

Question 10

the strike severely limited?

Answer 10

power and telecommunications and the British government declared a state of emergency

Question 11

within a fotnight what did faulkner do?

Answer 11

resigned as the chief executive of the power-sharing executive

Question 12

what was Wilson forced to do?

Answer 12

reimpose direct rule= Sunningdale agreement had collapsed

Question 13

The troubles continued. What did Wilson announce?

Answer 13

the establishment of a Northern Irish Constitution convention , elected body which would determine the future of government in Northern Ireland

Question 14

the elections in July 1975 resulted in a majority of unionists who?

Answer 14

were opposed to any form of power-sharing

Question 15

An agreement with nationalists would?
when was the convention dissolved?

Answer 15

not be possible
-the convention was dissolved in 1976

Question 16

From 1976 what was removed from terrorist prisoners?

Answer 16

special category status= meant they were no longer considered political prisoners but would be treated as criminals

Question 17

who disliked the removal of special category status?

Answer 17

paramilitaries= who belives they were engaged in a war

Question 18

as criminals they had to wear?

Answer 18

prison uniform

Question 19

Their refusal to wear prison uniform led to what became known as?

Answer 19

the ‘blanket protest’ by INLA and IRA prisoners whereby prisoners were either naked or only wore blankets

Question 20

this escalated to become what after 1978?

Answer 20

the ‘dirty protest’

Question 21

‘dirty protest’ involved?

Answer 21

republic prisoners alleging ill-treatment by prison guards refusing to leave their cells
-meant they were unable to ‘slop out’ instead smeared excrement on their cell walls

Question 22

by 1979 over how many prisoners taking part in the protest and demands were growing for them to gain political status.

Answer 22

over 250 prisoners