UNIT 2- The Campaign For Civil Rights Flashcards
What does NICRA stand for?
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
When was NICRA formed?
1967
Why was NICRA established?
1967 saw the emergence of young, university Catholics who were unconvinced by O’Neill and his promises.
What influenced the establishment of NICRA?
One of its founding members, Paddy Devlin, later wrote that NICRA was greatly inspired by the civil rights campaign to get justice equalities for black people in the USA. Particularly Martin Luther King’s methods of peaceful protesting in when his 1967 marches led to the US Congress to pass laws outlawing discrimination.
What was the main mission of NICRA?
NICRA didn’t seek to aim partition but hoped to end what it saw as a number of serious abuses in the existing political system and non-sectarian movement.
What sources of support did NICRA have?
In 1968 France, support was displayed through student demon. Support was shown from the new generation of Catholics (the first to have benefited from free education in the 1940s) as well as the growing confidence of Catholics worldwide through the likes of John F. Kennedy becoming the USA’s first Catholic president in 1960. Liberal Protestants also sympathised with NICRA’s demands and believed making NI fairer would reduce the demands for a united Ireland. Other groups such as academics and communists also provided support for NICRA.
Why did NICRA emerge? (In terms of policies and needs)
NICRA emerged due to the need for many reforms in Northern Ireland. One of these included the disbanding of the highly biased B-Specials and the removal of the 1922 Civil Authorities Act which allowed the government to arrest and detain people without trial. Furthermore, NICRA also sought an end to gerrymandering for no more cases like how in 1966 there was a unionist majority in Derry despite having only 10274 Protestants in comparison to 20102 Catholics. NICRA also demanded one man, one vote to allow all people over 18 and all people could only vote once. Moreover, NICRA also campaigned for the fair allocation of council housing, this was partly influenced by how only home owners could vote. The Cameron Commission found widespread favouritism towards Protestants in jobs. NICRA wanted jobs on merit, particularly in the political landscape. All these factors mainly focused on allowing for adequate and effective representation in the political system which was highly focused on the unionist view rather than the country as a whole.
Why did NICRA demand one man one vote?
Abolition of Proportional Representation in local elections meant fewer nationalists would be elected. Only those who paid rates to vote in local elections- £10 per vote to a max of 7 votes.
Why did NICRA reman an end to gerrymandering?
The unfair and biased redrawing of constituency boundaries to ensure a unionist control, despite the area having a nationalist majority, meant that there was not adequate nationalist representation within government.
Why did NICRA demand for the fair allocation of council housing?
Catholics were allocated fewer houses than Protestants by unionist controlled councils, since ownership of a house gave a vote in local elections. Moreover, the quality of much Catholic housing was inferior.
What did NICRA demand in response to how Catholics were less likely to have a job than Protestants?
The Cameron Commission found widespread evidence of favouritism towards Protestants in job allocation. NICRA demanded jobs on merit as well as more representation within political positions.
Why did NICRA demand the removal of he Civil Authorities Act 1922 (Special Powers Act) and the disbanding of the B-Specials?
The Special Powers Act 1922 allowed the Ulster Special Constabulary (mainly Protestants) to arrest and detain suspects without holding a fair trial. B-Specials also had a reputation for the unjust treatment of Catholics.
Why did NICRA demand a formal complaints procedure?
NICRA demanded the establishment of a formal complaints procedure to ensure future cases of discrimination did not get forgotten about.
Describe the March between Coalisland and Dungannon:
On the 24th August 1968 a March from Coalisland to Dungannon took place because of the decision from the Dungannon Rural District Council to give a council house in the County Tyrone village of Caledon to a 19 year-old Protestants woman instead of a nationalist family. Nationalist MP for east Tyrone, Austin Currie, squatted in the house. When evicted, Currie suggested holding a protest march to highlight the situation. The demonstration was prevented by the police from reaching its intended destination of Dungannon Town Square; however, an alternative rally was organised at the police barricade and the event ended peacefully.
Describe the first Londonderry merch:
On October 5th 1968, a march took place in Londonderry. It was provoked by housing allocation injustice to highlight seeming inequalities in Londonderry’s Corporation’s Housing policy. In response, the unionist Apprentice Boys organisation threatened to hold a rival march. The Stormont government responded by banning the holding of any march east it the River Foyle or within the historic city walls. However, NICRA march organiser’s rejected this ban. The crowd was relatively small but included 4 Westminster MPs (including Gerry Fitt for West Belfast) and a RTE camera clue. RTE showed the events of that day, putting NI’s injustice on the world stage by displaying heavy-handed tactics of the RUC. NI on verge of crisis.
Describe the series of Newry marches:
During January 1969, a series of marches took place in Newry which tended to worsen the situation. This was as NICRA had been going ahead with marches that the government had banned. Marches were seen as provocative, especially ones through Protestant areas. NICRA marches were coming into contact with unionist counter-demonstrations which did not end peacefully. However, these marches lead to the 5-point Reform Programme.
What did the 5-point Reform Programme offer in response to NICRA’s demand of the fair allocation of council housing?
The allocation of council housing based on a points system.
What did the 5-point Reform Programme offer in response to NICRA’s demand of an end to gerrymandering?
The replacement of Londonderry Corporation by a Development Commission.
What did the 5-point Reform Programme offer in response to NICRA’s demand of the removal of the 1922 Civil Authorities Act?
The removal of parts of the Special Powers Act
What did the 5-point Reform Programme offer in response to NICRA’s demand of the removal of business owners’ right to cast multiple votes?
Reforms within local government, including the ending of extra votes for business owners.
What did the 5-point Reform Programme offer in response to NICRA’s demand of establishing a formal complaints procedure?
The appointment of an ombudsman to investigate complaints.
What were the 5 points on the 5-Point Reform Programme?
-The allocation of council housing on a points system.
-The replacement of Londonderry Corporation by a Development Commission.
-The removal of parts of the Special Powers Act
-Reforms within local government, including the ending of extra votes for business owners.
-The appointment of an ombudsman to investigate complaints.
What were O’Neill’s reactions to the 5-Point Reform Programme?
He dismissed the package as “too timid”. On December 9th, he appeared on television to highlight to people the starkness of the position. Northern Ireland found itself in. Specifically appealing to NICRA’s leaders in his famous ‘Crossroads’ speech.
What were the unionist reactions to the 5-point Reform Programme?
Many unionists considered the be ‘too much’ and the reforms caused much dismay among unionists, who opposed concessions to the threat of violence and now who now felt their position was under threat. In the OUP, opposition continued through the Home Affairs Minister (William Craig) condemning O’Neill’s Crossroads speech, arguing that O’Neill was acting under pressure from the British. Craig was sacked but this did not deter opposition.
What were the nationalist reactions to the 5-point Reform Programme?
Despite some being happy to see progress, many nationalists were disappointed with the programme as it did not meet all major demands. Demands such as One Man One Vote were not addressed. This insufficiency lead to the emergence of the group the People’s Democracy (PD) who were unsatisfied with the government’s poor solutions and aggravated at NICRA’s seeming lack of action in response.
Who were the People’s Democracy?
A group mainly made from university students which had emerged out of the anger at the violence NICRA had faced in October 1968 and had a desire to disrupt the Stormont administration. The leading figures were Michael Farrel & Bernadette Devlin (elected MP for Mid Ulster in April 1969).
Why did the People’s Democracy emerge?
The PD group emerged out of anger at the violence NUCRA had faced in October 1968. They had a desire to disrupt the Stormont administration and were unhappy with the limited nature of O’Neill’s 5-point Reform Programme.
When did the PD hold their Belfast-Derry march?
From the 1st to the 4th of January 1969
Where was the 4 day PD march held?
From Belfast to Derry
Who condemned the PD March and what were the PD’s reactions to this?
The march was condemned by both NICRA and Nationalist leaders who feared its impact in an already tense situation. However, the People’s Democracy ignored these condemnations.
Why was the January PD march considered provocative?
Much of the march was to go through Protestant areas which forced the police to enforce different routes to avoid confrontation.
What was the major event that took place during the PD march?
On the 3rd day of the Belfast to Derry People’s Democracy march, the marchers were the target of a violent ambush at Burntollet Bridge which it seemed the police did little to deflect. Later on during the same night, tensions were raised in Derry when police rampaged through Nationalist areas of the city. Such events did little endear the RUC to members of the Nationalist community.
What were NICRA’s responses to the ambush at Burntollet Bridge?
NICRA had previously called off its marches in response to O’Neill’s reforms; however, believing now that the events in the north-west indicated that nothing had changed, it started to march again.
What was the result of NICRA Newry march which took place in response to the events at Burntollet? How did the government respond to this?
Again, violence resulted. In response, O’Neill established the Cameron Commission to investigate the increasing violence. This led 2 cabinet members (one being Brian Faulkner) to resign from government. Faulkner argued that O’Neill was not strong enough to control the situation and this opinion seemed to gain large popularity within the OUP- with 12 MPs calling out for the Prime Minister’s resignation on January 30th 1969. Instead, O’Neill called a general election, which he termed the “crossroads election”, in an attempt to prove that public opinion was behind his efforts to modernise Northern Ireland.
How did division within the OUP contribute to O’Neill’s downfall?
Even from the beginning O’Neill and little support within his own party when many members of the OUP thought Brian Faulkner should have been Prime Minister. This could be interpreted as O’Neill being set to fail from the beginning. Throughout his time in office, divisions only increased after his alleged failure to inform his cabinet of the Lemass visit and situation such as the backbenchers’ 1966 plan to get rid of him. Situations such as Craig’s public condemnation of the ‘crossroads’ speech and Faulkner’s resignation as well as publicly arguing that O’Neill was not strong enough to control the situation (lead to 12MPs calling out for his resignation on January 30th 1969), meant that O’Neill appeared in a weak position to the public, his opposition as well as the rest of the world.
How did Ian Paisley contribute to O’Neill’s downfall?
Paisley’s growing popularity with unionists, perhaps to do with O’Neill’s aloof personality in comparison to Paisley’s confidence and relatability, lead to O’Neill facing pressures when he had never had any competition to his seat in the past. In the 24th February ‘crossroads’ election, O’Neill had only polled 1 400 votes that Paisley. This showed O’Neill losing favour from the public and meant he couldn’t prove himself.
How did his lack of support contribute to O’Neill’s downfall?
Even from the beginning O’Neill and little support within his own party when many members of the OUP thought Brian Faulkner should have been Prime Minister. This could be interpreted as O’Neill being set to fail from the beginning. Throughout his time in office, divisions only increased after his alleged failure to inform his cabinet of the Lemass visit and situation such as the backbenchers’ 1966 plan to get rid of him. Situations such as Craig’s public condemnation of the ‘crossroads’ speech and Faulkner’s resignation as well as publicly arguing that O’Neill was not strong enough to control the situation (lead to 12MPs calling out for his resignation on January 30th 1969), meant that O’Neill appeared in a weak position to the public, his opposition as well as the rest of the world. From the public, O’Neill also had insufficient support. There was little to no evidence of the hoped support of Catholics votes and Paisley’s growing popularity with unionists meant that O’Neill only polled 1 400 votes more than him in the February 24th 1969 ‘crossroads’ election.
How did his failing policies contribute to O’Neill’s downfall?
Various failing policies such as the 12.5% unemployment rate West of the Bann and the loss of 20 000 jobs in ailing traditions meant O’Neill had weak and declining support from the public. This lead to other figures, such as Ian Paisley, growing in popularity and O’Neill only polled 1400 more votes than Paisley,ey in the February 24th 1969 ‘crossroads’ election in a constituency where he hadn’t faced competition before.
How did pressures from the PD and NICRA contribute to O’Neill’s downfall?
Pressure from NICRA marches lead to O’Neill implementing his 5-point Reform Programme. This programme did not address all of NICRA’s demands (e.g. One Man One Vote) which lead to the People’s Democracy forming out of the dissatisfaction and aggravation to the insufficient offering of the 5-point Reform Programme, which was publicly condemned by Home Affairs Minister William Craig. The 5xpoint Reform Programme also lead to disdain and fear amongst unionists who felt their position was under threat. The PD’s January Belfast to Derry March which was ambushed at Burntollet Bridge displayed the police doing little to help to ambushed marchers.
How did the series of bombings contribute to O’Neill’s downfall?
The series of bombings during O’Neill’s time as Prime Minister which were the work of loyalists (despite appearing to be by the IRA) greatly impacted O’Neill’s choice to resign. In fact, in his autobiography, he reflected that the bombs “quite literally blew me out of office” and could be considered as the last nail in his coffin.
