Northern Ireland 1920-2000

The foundation of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland (a.k.a. “The North”, “The Six Counties) was established in 1920, when Ireland was divided in two

The 1922 Treaty which set up the Irish Free State confirmed this

Northern Ireland in 1920

Population – 1 ½ million One Million – Protestant/Unionist (wanted to remain part of

Britain) Half Million – Catholic/Nationalist (Wanted to be in a United

Ireland) With Protestants/Unionists making up 2/3 of the population

they were able to politically dominate Catholics/Nationalists Catholics suffered from discrimination in Northern Ireland

in terms of jobs, housing etc. – Protestant would usually get a job ahead of a Catholic

Quote of the day

“Many in this audience employ Catholics, but I have not one about my place. Catholics are out to destroy Ulster...If we in Ulster allow Roman Catholics to work on our farms we are traitors to Ulster...I would appeal to loyalists, therefore, wherever possible, to employ good Protestant lads and lassies”

- Basil Brooke, Unionist Politician, in 1933

P184 – James Craig

1921 – Unionists win 40 out of 52 Seats in Northern Ireland Parliament

Northern Irish Police (Royal Ulster Constabulary, RUC) attacked by IRA

James Craig elected PM, promises to defeat the IRA Special Powers Act passed by NI Government – gave

RUC powers to imprison without trial (internment) Nationalists were left very bitter by Craig’s

crackdown and by being left out of the Irish Free State

Orange Order

Set up in 1796 to defend Protestantism Became very powerful in Northern Ireland after

1922 – all Unionist Party leaders belonged to it To many Catholics, was a symbol of their oppression

by Protestants Helped Protestants get the best jobs in the country

The Northern Ireland Economy

Before World War One the economy in the North was very strong. Two key parts: Linen Mills Shipbuilding (Titanic most famous example)

After WW1, these industries declined – Protestant and Catholic workers joined trade unions to demand work

Craig and other Unionist leaders didn’t want Catholics and Protestant workers to come together and so ensured only Protestant workers got Government jobs.

World War 2 and Northern Ireland

American Troops based in NI at this time Linen for Parachutes & uniforms made in Belfast Derry used as a base for Ships patrolling the

Atlantic Warships built in Belfast Belfast also bombed in WW2

1945 British General Election Poster

Welfare State and NI

1945 – British Labour Party wins UK General election

Labour established the Welfare State. This meant... Free healthcare Old Age Pensions Dole for unemployed people Free Secondary Education and Grants for University

Students

Welfare State and Catholics

Because of the Welfare state, Northern Catholics became better off

Less interested in a United Ireland – Standard of Living was better in the North

As a result IRA lost public support in the 1950s and 60s

Education helped Catholics improve themselves.... ....but also made them aware of the discrimination

against them

Discrimination against Catholics

Many Catholics were not allowed to vote in elections

Catholics had only 23 out of the top 319 jobs in the Civil Service in the North

Only 12% of the police were Catholics Public Housing given to Protestants ahead of

Catholics Catholics found it very hard to get decent jobs

1963 – New names, new faces

In the early 1960s, Basil Brooke (old fashioned, below left) replaced as NI Prime Minister by Terence O’Neill (more modern, below right)

O’Neill wanted to tackle the discrimination against Catholics and modernise Northern Ireland

O’Neill tries to tackle discrimination – p 192

In the 1960s, younger Catholics were fed up being discriminated against

They saw black people demanding more rights in the USA and were impressed

Set up their own organisation, the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) to demand rights for Catholics like themselves

Protestants felt that giving rights to Catholics would undermine their position and opposed O’Neill’s efforts to tackle discrimination

The Backlash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiiXVskKrjw&feature=related

Ian Paisley

Hard line Protestant preacher from Co. Antrim Did not engage in violence – but encouraged a

violent atmosphere in the North Completely opposed to O’Neill’s measures to tackle

discrimination against Catholics

August 1969 - The (British) Army arrives

Initially welcomed by Catholics as it was hoped they would protect Catholic areas from attack

This period of warm relations between Catholics and British army didn’t last long

SDLP is founded

Moderate nationalists who did not agree with violence founded this party in 1970

Led by Gerry Fitt and John Hume Ran for election to UK Parliament in Westminster.

Sinn Fein didn’t (still won’t take their seats in Westminster)

Provisional IRA - Provos

The IRA split in 1970 between those who favoured peace (Official IRA) and those who didn’t (Provisional IRA or Provos)

Provisional IRA kept on fighting until 1994, Official IRA called a ceasefire in the early 1970s

When people today talk about the IRA, they are usually referring to the Provisional IRA

Sometimes referred to as the “Provos”

Internment and Bloody Sunday – p194

The Sunningdale Agreement

In 1973 the first peace agreement between Unionists and Nationalists was agreed Agreement to share power between Unionists and Nationalists Extreme Nationalists (IRA) and Extreme Unionists (Ian Paisley &

DUP) opposed this agreement After a major strike by Protestant workers the two sides

called off the agreement

Unionist anti-Sunningdale agreement poster

Hunger Strikes

Garret Fitzgerald and the New ireland Forum

The Hunger Strikes made many people think about the Problems in the North

Garret Fitzgerald was Taoiseach in the 1980s and set up the New Ireland Forum to discuss the issue

The 1985 Anglo Irish Agreement

When the Unionist and Nationalist leaders in Northern Ireland would not agree a peace deal, the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister made a deal instead

This deal gave the Republic’s Government a say in the Running of Northern Ìreland

Very unpopular with Unionists

Fitzgerald and Thatcher sign the Anglo Irish Agreement

IRA Ceasefire 1994 – Peace talks start

Good Friday Agreement 1998

Peace agreement involving all parties in Northern Ireland and British and Irish Governments

Both sides compromised for peace

Key Terms

Internment NICRA Sectarianism UDA & UVF Gerrymandering Bloody Sunday Direct Rule Welfare State Stormont RUC B-Specials Sunningdale Agreement