The Troubles

Question 1

What were the causes of the troubles?

Answer 1

• The government of Ireland act 1920 split Ireland, creating a sectarian state in the north
• Catholics were discriminated against with voting restrictions, unemployment, policing, unemployment, and education
• The new welfare state after WW2 gave more education to the catholics

Question 2

What was the course of the troubles?

Answer 2

• Battle of the bogside (Unionist March goes through catholic Derry, rioters create ‘free Derry’)
• 1971, internment is implemented (yet only catholics were arrested)
• Bloody Sunday (catholic march against internment, RUC opened fire on crowd, killing 14)
• British suspended stormont as they were not handling the situation
• IRA prisoners demanded political status in Maze prison
  -IRA and loyalist ceasefires in 1994

Question 3

Consequences of the troubles

Answer 3

• Good Friday agreement ( power sharing between parties, release of political prisoners from jail, decommissioning of weapons and reform of RUC)
• passed by referendum in north and south
• never a return to violence
  John Hume and David Trimble get Nobel peace prize for the Good Friday Agreement
• Some 3,500 people were killed in the troubles