what were the difficulties with implementing the sunningdale agreement - example answer Flashcards
what was Hume’s idea
that the Irish people are divided not by lines on a map but by their own mentality by exploring difficulties associated with implementing the Sunningdale agreement
what was the Sunningdale agreement not seen as first?
a breakthrough in resolving the conflict in northern ireland
what would eventually symbolise the increasing division between unionist and nationalist communities?
attempt at power-sharing
what will this essay discuss?
the initial response to the agreement in unionist and nationalist communities
what will this essay also discuss?
difficulties associated with implementing the Sunningdale agreement by outlining initial responses to the agreement in unionist and nationalist communities
importance of the ulster workers councils strike
regarding the mobilisation of unionist against the implementation of the agreement of northern ireland
what was still ongoing when the rally was held?
conference of Sunningdale
where was the rally held?
ulster hall on 6th of December 1973
who attended the rally?
unionist opposed to the idea of power sharing
Ian Paisley
DUP leader
who decided to come together to form the united ulster unionist council?
Ian Paisley, leader of the vanguard movement and some member of the orange order
UUUC
united ulster unionist council
what did UUC decide on?
work together to oppose the implementation of Sunningdale agreement
whp broadly welcomed the Sunningdale agreement?
nationalists
why did nationalists welcome the Sunningdale agreement
the executive would give nationalists a say in governance and the council of ireland
how did nationalists feel if the executive would give nationalists a say?
a step in the right direction towards a united ireland
who opposed the agreement?
IRA and Sinn Fein
why did IRA and Sinn Fein oppose it?
they felt the council of Ireland reinforced the idea of partition on the island
what did the IRA carry out?
series of bombing in London as a response to agreement
how is it clear there would be serious difficulties implementing the Sunningdale agreement in Northern Ireland?
the extreme responses from both communities
what demonstrates the large-scale difficulties associated with the Sunningdale agreement?
the first meeting of the northern Ireland assembly
what was to be constructed with Faulkner as the chief executive?
the power-sharing executive
who was the rest of the executive
fitt, minister from unionists party, SDLP and alliance parties
what position is fiit?
deputy chief-executive
what was the group like initially?
optimistic for reconciliation
what would weaken the power-sharing executive group?
the events that would follow
when was the first meeting of the executive?
22nd of january
why did the first meeting descend into chaos?
Ian paisley and his anti-agreement assembly members violently seized occupation of ministerial seats
what did they do to Ian paisley in the meeting?
had to be forcibly removed from the chamber
what did one member of the vanguard movement do?
chain himself to one of the chairs
what did the eight RUC members do?
carried Ian paisley out to the front steps
how many were injured?
5 RUC police officers tried to restore order
what else furthered the difficulty of the implementation of the Sunningdale agreement?
the power-sharing executive
who called a general election?
edward heath
when did he call a general election?
february 1974
what would further weaken the authority of the power-sharing executive?
the general election
how many seats did the unionist candidates opposed to the Sunningdale agreement win?
11
where did the remaining seat go?
to the SDLP
what happened as a result of the general election?
became evident that large portions of the population in NI rejected the power-sharing institutions established in the country
who won the most seats in the election?
the labour party
who became PM
harold wilson
who did Harold Wilson appoint
Merlyn rees as secretary of state for NI
why were Wilson and ree not as committed to supporting NI executive as conservatives
it was not their policy to try and implement the Sunningdale agreement
what added greatly to the difficulties faced by the NI power-sharing executive?
the UK general election of 1974
what was the biggest difficulty associated with implementing the Sunningdale agreement in NI
the ulster workers council strike
what was UWC
organisation of loyalist workers drawn from traditionally protestant industries
what were examples of traditionally protestant industries?
shipbuilding and electricity supply that was formed in 1969
what did the UWC announce?
a strike
when would the strike take place?
15th of may
what was the Sunningdale agreement
attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland
what was the strike following on from?
the defeat of a vote calling for the rejection of the Sunningdale agreement
what happened on the morning of Wednesday 15th of March?
support for the UWC was limited
what was reported?
90% of the chamber of commerces in Belfast workforce turned up for work
how did the situation change?
UDA became involved and began to enforce the implantation of the strike
what did the UDA begin to implement?
tactics such as abusing workers
examples of how they abused workers?
abusing workers as they walked to factories
hijacking buses to stop workers
threatening employers their buildings would be bombed if they remained opened
what was the most important tactic used?
occupation of power station of loyalists
what did the occupation of power stations result as?
reduction of electricity generation to 60% normal supply forcing many factories to shut down
what did surrounding areas experience
power blackouts daily and became critical for local hospitals
