The Troubles of Northern The Troubles of Northern IrelandIreland

I. BackgroundI. Background 1212thth Cent.: England (Protestant) Cent.: England (Protestant)

conquered & colonized Ireland conquered & colonized Ireland (Catholic) (Catholic)

1717thth Cent.: British Protestant pop. Cent.: British Protestant pop. increased w/Scottish & English settlers increased w/Scottish & English settlers into Northern Ireland into Northern Ireland Irish Catholic farmers were displaced & Irish Catholic farmers were displaced &

given less fertile land given less fertile land NORTHERN IRELAND = BRITISH NORTHERN IRELAND = BRITISH PROTESTANT MAJORITY!PROTESTANT MAJORITY!

1800: Ireland = United Kingdom1800: Ireland = United Kingdom Later 1800s: Irish Caths sought Home Later 1800s: Irish Caths sought Home

Rule & hostilities increased against Brits Rule & hostilities increased against Brits Sectarian violence Sectarian violence = =

conflict betw. different sects of one conflict betw. different sects of one particular ideology or particular ideology or religion w/in a religion w/in a nation/community nation/community

1921: Ireland was divided based on 1921: Ireland was divided based on populationpopulation North = British ProtestantNorth = British Protestant South = Irish CatholicSouth = Irish Catholic

1949: Complete liberation (Republic of Ireland) 1949: Complete liberation (Republic of Ireland)

II. Causes of Conflict in N. II. Causes of Conflict in N. Ireland Ireland 1) Divided loyalties1) Divided loyalties

Prots & Caths see themselves as 2 different groupsProts & Caths see themselves as 2 different groups Lack of common identity prevents understanding & Lack of common identity prevents understanding &

cooperationcooperation 2) Unequal housing opportunities 2) Unequal housing opportunities 3) Unequal employment opportunities3) Unequal employment opportunities 4) Voting inequality 4) Voting inequality 5) Education inequality5) Education inequality

Fully funded public schools for Prots & only partially funded Fully funded public schools for Prots & only partially funded private schools for Caths private schools for Caths

6) Lack of opportunities for social interaction 6) Lack of opportunities for social interaction Privately funded integrated schools attract only 5% of school-Privately funded integrated schools attract only 5% of school-

aged childrenaged children Prots & Caths live in separate residential areas Prots & Caths live in separate residential areas

Religious differences cause tension BUT ARE NOT a Religious differences cause tension BUT ARE NOT a cause of conflictcause of conflict

Why do British Protestants refuse to join Why do British Protestants refuse to join the Republic of Ireland?the Republic of Ireland? b/c they would lose the advantages b/c they would lose the advantages

of majority status!of majority status! Demographics of Northern Ireland:Demographics of Northern Ireland:

Brit Prots = 60%Brit Prots = 60% Irish Caths = 40% Irish Caths = 40%

Rugby (British)

Field Hockey (British)

Cricket (British)

Hurling(Irish version of Field Hockey)

III. Peace Turns ViolentIII. Peace Turns Violent Mid 1960s: Civil Rights Movement (Irish Mid 1960s: Civil Rights Movement (Irish

Catholics)Catholics) Began a period known as Began a period known as The TroublesThe Troubles

1972: “Bloody Sunday” –turning point1972: “Bloody Sunday” –turning point Bloody Sunday Video

Sinn Fein (“We Ourselves”) (Irish Catholic Political Sinn Fein (“We Ourselves”) (Irish Catholic Political Party) Party) (1969) Irish Republican Army (IRA)—used (1969) Irish Republican Army (IRA)—used

violence violence Goal: to liberate N. Ireland of Brit rule & Goal: to liberate N. Ireland of Brit rule &

reunify Irelandreunify Ireland

Bloody Sunday:Bloody Sunday: January 30, 1972: Derry, Northern Ireland: 26

unarmed civil-rights protesters were shot by soldiers of the British Army (14 were killed—7 were teenagers)

It began when a group of protestors were marching It began when a group of protestors were marching around the town. The numbers of the group kept around the town. The numbers of the group kept escalating and at one point it was up to around 3,000 escalating and at one point it was up to around 3,000 people. Troops were brought in to disperse the crowd, people. Troops were brought in to disperse the crowd, and at that point, people began throwing stones at and at that point, people began throwing stones at the troops. Roadblocks were set up to restrain the the troops. Roadblocks were set up to restrain the marchers in certain sections of the town. The crowd marchers in certain sections of the town. The crowd became more and more lively and the troops began to became more and more lively and the troops began to make arrests. As the arrests were taking place, the make arrests. As the arrests were taking place, the army came under fire and they fired back. The results army came under fire and they fired back. The results of this day led to the death of 14 at the hands of the of this day led to the death of 14 at the hands of the First Battalion. The IRA responded with the orders to First Battalion. The IRA responded with the orders to "kill as many soldiers as possible in retaliation""kill as many soldiers as possible in retaliation"

Bloody FridayBloody Friday July 21, 1972: Belfast: I.R.A. detonated July 21, 1972: Belfast: I.R.A. detonated

22 bombs22 bombs 9 killed, 130 injured9 killed, 130 injured

IV. Violence turns to PeaceIV. Violence turns to Peace

*Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein President)*Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein President)

*Tony Blair (1997-2007 = U.K. Prime *Tony Blair (1997-2007 = U.K. Prime Minister)Minister)

--helped negotiate --helped negotiate Good Friday Peace Good Friday Peace AgreementAgreement

Good Friday Peace Good Friday Peace Agreement (1998)Agreement (1998)

Created the Created the Northern Ireland Assembly Northern Ireland Assembly Power sharing law making body of N. Ireland Power sharing law making body of N. Ireland

made up of Prots. & Caths. made up of Prots. & Caths. Democratic Unionist Party (Peter Robinson) & Democratic Unionist Party (Peter Robinson) &

Sinn Fein (Martin McGuinness) share powerSinn Fein (Martin McGuinness) share power IRA renounced violenceIRA renounced violence Integrated police forceIntegrated police force The Troubles The Troubles officially officially

ended in 2007 followingended in 2007 following

the St. Andrews Agreementthe St. Andrews Agreement

V. Some more detail…V. Some more detail…

1990s…1990s…

1994: IRA & militant Prots. declared 1994: IRA & militant Prots. declared ceasefiresceasefires

1998: Good Friday Peace Agreement1998: Good Friday Peace Agreement Voters in N. Ireland elected an assembly which Voters in N. Ireland elected an assembly which

moderate Prots. & Caths. moderate Prots. & Caths. shared power shared power ((Northern Ireland AssemblyNorthern Ireland Assembly))

BUT…snags remainedBUT…snags remained Prots. wanted full disarmament of IRAProts. wanted full disarmament of IRA Caths. wanted an integrated police forceCaths. wanted an integrated police force

Modern day…Modern day…

Northern Ireland Assembly was broken up until… Northern Ireland Assembly was broken up until… 2006: IRA disarmed & renounced terrorism, &2006: IRA disarmed & renounced terrorism, &

police force was integrated police force was integrated 2006: 2006: St. Andrews Agreement St. Andrews Agreement restored the restored the

Northern Ireland Assembly which led to the Northern Ireland Assembly which led to the election of 2007election of 2007

2007: Ian Paisley (2007: Ian Paisley (DUPDUP) & Martin McGuiness ) & Martin McGuiness ((Sinn FeinSinn Fein) shared power () shared power (Northern Ireland Northern Ireland AssemblyAssembly)) 2008: Peter Robinson = current First Minister2008: Peter Robinson = current First Minister