Purpose: After having studied the Reformation and Martin Luther, 10th grade History students are now encouraged to find out how the split of the Catholic Church continues to affect societies around the world.
The Task: Students are to answer the questions below by doing research and writing a paragraph that effectively answers each of the nine questions. Students are required to paste their answers onto our class blog: prshistory.blogspot.com. It is hoped that students will have a better understanding of the issues in Northern Ireland after they have completed this assignment.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Due Date: The assignment needs to be posted no later than 8:00am on Monday, October 5th.
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ReplyDelete1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteA dispute between the Protestants and Catholics. The Catholics feel they are being discriminated against and the Protestants disagree. A Catholic splinter group called the IRA (Irish Republic Army) have been fighting and bombing the Protestants.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
The Ulster Unionist Party began their rule of Northern Ireland and governed until 1972.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
Terence O’Neill tried to solve Northern Ireland’s social problems. He met with the ruler of the Republic of Ireland to talk. This raised the hopes of the Northern Irish Catholics because they would no longer be a minority religion and persecuted against but this was disliked by the Protestants because they no longer be a majority.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The troops tempered Protestant responses to Catholic protests but also became a target for terrorist outrage.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The Irish Republic Army wants a unified Ireland. The Protestants didn’t believe that this should happen.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
27 civil rights protestors were shot by a British parachute regiment. All were unarmed. The IRA got a huge boost in recruitment and support.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
In 1994 a cease-fire was declared. The NRA broke the cease-fire two years later and started a new one in 1997. Peace talks resumed several months afterwards. On April 10, 1988 the sides elected a controlling majority of pro-peace officials in the Northern Irish Legislative Assembly.
Later on, a power-sharing assembly was elected and this has been in place ever since.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
He made two visits to Northern Ireland, trying to get the citizens to unite in peace talks.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Ian paisley, a Protestant priest, and Martin McGuiness, an IRA leader, both hold high places in the new government. I don’t have a grasp on the exact political situation, but it seems to at the least be getting more and more fair as time goes on.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteFor the past 3 decades, the Catholics in Northern Ireland have felt as though they were being wrongfully discriminated against by the Protestants, and this has caused many years of violence.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
A treaty was signed in 1921 creating the Irish Free State from 23 southern counties and 3 counties in Ulster.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
After the treaty was signed in 1921, the feuds between the Catholics and Protestants calmed, but in the late 1960's bloody riots began. Even after British troops were brought in to restore the issue, bombings and other acts of terrorism took place. More than 3,000 people have since died due to these violent acts.
4.How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British army was present during many battles/conflicts between the Catholics and Protestants.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The I.R.A., or the Irish Rupublican Army were fighting for a unified country.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
13 Catholic protesters die after being shot by troops from the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment following disturbances during a banned civil rights march.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
Although a cease-firing was declared in 1994, it was soon broken. Although the NRA broke this cease-firing, a new one was started in 1997. Currently, the elected power sharing assembly is taking the proper precautions.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
President Clinton tried gave peace talks twice in hopes of uniting the Catholics and Protestants.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Currently, there is both a Protestant priest and an IRA leader in power of the government. It seems as though slowly, but surely they are finding the best way to live comfortably together.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteIn the past three decades there has been a conflict between the Protestants and Catholics in Ireland. The I.R.A has committed acts of terrorism, i.e. bombings on the Protestants. The British army entered Ireland hoping to resolve the conflict but egged it on more.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In 1921, a treaty was signed creating the Irish Free State (Republic of Ireland) from 23 southern counties and 3 counties in Ulster. The other 6 counties of Ulster made up Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
Violence erupted in the late 1960s and riots broke out in Londonderry in 1968 and in Belfast 1969. The British troops came in to restore the order, instead the conflicted intensified. The IRA and Protestant paramilitary groups started bombing places and committing other acts of terrorism. This conflict became known as “The Troubles.”
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British army first came to Northern Ireland when there was a series of rebellions. The British army was supposed to help the police control the riots, and they ended up killing civilians and fueling the conflict even more.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The I.R.A. is the Irish Republican Army. Their main purpose was to eradicate the British from Northern Ireland by acts of terrorism and rebellion. They want the British troops out of Ireland entirely. However, a treaty was signed after the War of Independence in Ireland and Ireland was split in two; into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
At 3pm on the day known as “Bloody Sunday”, 15,000 people attended a march from Creggan to Guildhall Square. The British deemed this march illegal and had placed barricades on the streets. The British troops used rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons to attack some of the marchers who had thrown stones at the barricades. Later on in the march, British troops opened fire on 14 unarmed civilians, killing them. This conflict made the Irish troops attack the British troops over the next years
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
There were two attempts to create cease-fires in Ireland. The first one was initiated in 1994, which was later broken by the NRA. A new one was put into place in 1997. The Belfast Agreement (or the Good Friday Agreement) was endorsed on May 23rd, 1998. This was a major step towards the Northern Ireland peace process. A power-share is in place now, between the Unionists who want Northern Ireland to continue to be part of Britain and the Nationalists, who prefer Ireland to be united as one.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
In 1992, Bill Clinton made a pledge to send a peace envoy. Clinton encouraged US companies to bring economic investment to Northern Ireland. Clinton visited Northern Ireland and sparked the citizens’ imaginations. Clinton brought the treaty he had promised in 1992 to life, it was called the de facto peace envoy.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
The current leaders in the government of Ireland are a Protestant priest and an I.R.A leader. Since both sides have a place in the government, I think that it is fair to both sides.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteCatholics in Northern Ireland wish for all of Ulster to be absorbed into the Republic of Ireland, while Protestants in Northern Ireland want to remain part of Great Britain. Protestant and Catholic forces have been fighting each other over this issue.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
The Government of Ireland Act authorized the partition of Ireland. Ireland was divided into the north, or the six mainly Protestant counties of Ireland, and the south, the twenty-six predominately Catholic counties. The Catholic counties were given dominion status as the “Irish Free State,” but Ireland wanted full independence.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
“The troubles” is a period of intense Catholic-Protestant fighting and is sometimes referred to as a “civil war.” In 1963, Terrence O’Neill, a unionist and a former army officer, rose to power as viscount of Northern Ireland and instated measures intended to bring Catholics and Protestants to more equal ground. His meeting with the Republic of Ireland’s head of state aroused Protestant unionists’ fears, which led to the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a terrorist group. The UVF, joined by other belligerent unionist groups, fought constantly with the Catholic IRA, while civilians joined the battle by participating in protest marches and hunger strikes. British forces came to Northern Ireland to uphold the law. In 1985, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish head of state Garret FitzGerald ended “the troubles” with the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which states that Northern Ireland will remain part of Britain as long as that is the will of the majority.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British presence heightened Catholic unease and added to the conflict, unintentionally driving people to enlist in the IRA.
5. Who are the IRA and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The IRA, or Irish Republican Army, is an Irish force created to “defend the Catholic minority.” The more militant branch, the Provisional IRA (PIRA), unleashed violence to force Britain into releasing its hold on Northern Ireland.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
British paratroopers from the 1st Parachute Division fired upon nonviolent Catholic protesters in Derry, killing fourteen and wounding others. This incident only increased tension by raising already high Catholic dissatisfaction.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
The IRA declared a cease-fire in 1994, but it was broken by the NRA. A second cease-fire was declared in 1997, and a year later the Irish and British signed the Belfast Agreement. This treaty restates that Northern Ireland will be constitutionally part of Britain as long as the majority agrees to this and continues on to state that all parties must use “peaceful and democratic means” to achieve their goals.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
He gave Gerry Adams, leader of the IRA branch Sinn Fein, a US visa and he made three peace visits to Dublin and Belfast. The first was in 1995, the next in 1998?, and the most recent was in 2000. President Clinton also appointed George Mitchell, a previous senator and Obama’s current Middle East special envoy, to facilitate peace talks in Northern Ireland.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
A Protestant priest and an IRA member both hold high positions in the government of Northern Ireland, which balances both sides.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteThe major issue between Ireland and Northern Ireland over the last three decades has revolved around the disagreement between the Catholics and the Protestants. Northern Ireland’s Catholic would like to unify Ireland and Northern Ireland, whereas the Protestants would like to stay apart of the United Kingdom and Great Britain.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In December of 1921 the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed. This treaty forced the British troops leave Ireland. Following the British army’s departure, Ireland became the Irish Free State, and Northern Ireland separated itself from the Free State. Also, in 1921 the Ulster Unionist Party began its rule of Northern Ireland, which lasted until 1972.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
The Troubles were a period of time when the fighting between the Catholics and Protestants was at a peak. Many vicious riots in the streets and bombing campaigns occurred. Most deaths were of civilians. The British troops attempted to restore peace, but failed. Bloody Sunday occurred during the Troubles.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British army originally deployed to Northern Ireland to keep peace after the Royal Ulster Constabulary lost control. They ended up having a negative effect. Many people were upset about Britain’s heavy influence, resulting in huge backlash.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The I.R.A. is the Irish Republican Army, a Catholic paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. The IRA wanted independence from Great Britain, and to become apart of the Irish Republic.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
On January 30, 1972 in Derry, Northern Ireland, the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment shot 27 protesters during a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march. This is considered one of the most important events of the Troubles because it was carried out by the army and was in full view of the public. This event resulted in heightened support for the IRA.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
Politicians in Irish and British governments called for a ceasefire, which was broken, but a second one was instituted. Negotiations resulted in the Good Friday Agreement, which eventually resulted in a power sharing agreement. In 2007, Sinn Fein, a Republican Party, and the Democratic Unionist Party reached an agreement that allows them to work side-by-side. These steps have been successful, and there is now relative peace in Northern Ireland, though a group called “the Real IRA” is thought to have been active and planning attacks.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
President Clinton spoke at a rally in Belfast encouraging the peace process. Clinton also encouraged political leaders to compromise with each other and to craft the peace agreement that was signed on April 10, 1998.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Currently, Ian Paisley, a protestant, is the president of Northern Ireland, but Martin McGuinness, a Catholic, is the Deputy First Minister. This is fair because both the Protestants and Catholics have representation in the government.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteFor the last three decades, the Protestants in Ireland have felt that they have been discriminated against by the Catholics in Ireland. The Catholics disagree with this and splinter group known as the IRA has been bombing the Protestants and committing other various acts of terrorism. This is all because while the Protestants want Northern Ireland to remain with Great Britain, the Catholics believe that Northern Island should become part of the Republic of Ireland.
Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In 1921 a truce ended the Ireland’s War of Independence.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
“The Troubles” was a period of conflict that took place in Ireland from 1963 to 1985 between Ireland’s Nationalist party (made up mostly of Catholics) and Ireland’s Unionist Community (made up mostly of Protestants). This included a series of armed campaigns to reunite Ireland entirely by ending any and all British control Northern Ireland .
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British Army entered Ireland in an attempt to stomp out the violence that erupted in the later 1960’s. However, this only made the Catholics uneasy, resulting in even more trouble than there was at the start.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
IRA stands for “Irish Republican Army”. The IRA’s goal is to force the British Army out of Ireland and make it give up it’s claim on Ireland.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
In January of 1972, 27 civil rights protesters in Derry were shot at by members of the British Parachute Regiment resulting in the deaths of thirteen people (seven were still teenagers) and the injury of two others (who were hit by army vehicles). This increased the already high tension and fueled the Catholic's anger.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
A cease-fire was declared in 1994 though it was broken by NRA . Since then, another cease-fire was announced in 1997. Another agreement was signed a year later which states that Northern Ireland must remain a part of Great Britain as long as the majority of Northern Ireland agrees to it. Since then, there has been relative peace in Ireland though many believe that a group that refers to itself as “The real IRA” is planning a series of attacks.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
The United States’ 42nd President Bill Clinton traveled to Belfast (the current capital and largest city of Ireland) and spoke at a rally encouraging peace. He also encouraged companies from the United States to help boost Northern Ireland’s economy.
What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
People from both sides currently hold high positions in Ireland’s current government, Ian Paisley (leader of the Democratic Unionist Party) representing the Protestants and Martin McGuinness (leader of the IRA) representing the Catholics.
Emma Christenfeld:Part 1
ReplyDeleteThe biggest issue in Northern Ireland stems all the way back to the time of the Renaissance when the split between Protestant and Catholic first appeared with Martin Luther’s 95 theses. In the following years, the Anglican Church was formed, and many problems occurred in England with Protestant vs. Catholic fighting costing many lives. At this time, Ireland was a part of England and they were ruled by the English rulers. Scotland was in a constant state of rebellion against the stronger England and was frequently beat down such as in the Battle of Flodden Field, which killed one of the last Scottish kings. The problems with Scotland were soothed when James I became the king of England as well as Scotland. Ireland began to experience problems much more recently.
In 1921, the British signed an agreement that divided Ireland into two parts, the Republic of Ireland, an independent country and Northern Ireland, which was still a part of the UK. Northern Ireland included Derry but was much smaller than Ireland. This area had a Protestant majority but a significant Catholic presence in the region. The Republic of Ireland had a Catholic majority. This solution did not make the Irish very happy. They were underrepresented in their government and they had few rights. The standards of living for Irish Protestants were much higher than the standards for Irish Catholics. The Irish Catholics originally welcomed the British Army, hoping that with them there, they would be safe from Protestant militias which harassed them. Their hope died on Bloody Sunday.
As violent protests began, the British army began cracking down with a significant presence in the area. The IRA or Irish Republican Army began a campaign of armed fighting against the British. They wanted the British gone and Ireland unified. The retaliation was severe. Protests were banned and arrests followed. Such items as nail bombs and petrol bombs began to make an appearance. The British Army’s presence infuriated the Protestants of Ireland. To them, the British were an occupying power. Problems like this came to be known as the Troubles.
The event known as Bloody Sunday in January 1972 began as a protest march against the occupation by the British. During the march, the 1st Parachute Regiment opened fire on the crowd, killing many. Several people attempted to help the wounded, yelling that they were unarmed and trying to help but were gunned down. In total, 13 people died on Bloody Sunday and another man died from his injuries four and a half months later. The British Army claimed that the dead protesters had been armed with guns and nail bombs and claimed to have found weapons in a search of the body of one of the killed a few days later. This is contradicted by the people who carried the body inside and tried to save his life. They state that he was completely unarmed. Tests were done on the hands of all the killed to test for gunpowder residue which would indicate firing a gun, but all tests came back negative. One man who was shot came out of his cover to aid a wounded man. Another waved a white handkerchief as he ran to assist another victim. He also was shot and killed.
Emma Christenfeld: Part 2
ReplyDeleteBloody Sunday infuriated Ireland and violence increased. The Catholics who had regarded the British as being peace-keepers now regarded them as oppressors and wanted them gone. The British launched an investigation into the killings, which were also called the Bogside Massacre, but the investigation was considered biased, seeing as it did nothing to punish the troops who opened fire. This investigation was called the Widgery Tribunal. They called the behavior of the troops “bordering on reckless” but did not punish them and was regarded as a ‘whitewash’. A second investigation, called the Saville Inquiry, was started in 1998 to look into it again. The report was expected in late 2009 but has been delayed to March, 2010.
More controversy was caused by the fact that the British Army refused to release the photos and helicopter footage from Bloody Sunday but that press photos showed that the killed were unarmed. All press photos of the event which show the men as they were being shot show their empty hands. The Ministry of Defense also claimed that the guns used on Bloody Sunday had been lost and could not be used although the guns have since turned up in Sierra Leone, Beirut and a gun shop in Arkansas.
The coroner, Hubert O’Neill released this statement on the completion of the inquest on the Bloody Sunday killings: “I would say without hesitation that it was sheer, unadulterated murder. It was murder.”
US President Bill Clinton got involved in the conflict in 1992, calling for a ceasefire. Agreements included a higher degree of autonomy for Northern Ireland and more representation in their own government. The current leaders of North Ireland are a member of the IRA and a Protestant priest. Recently, the LRA has largely disarmed though many people still want Northern Ireland to become a part of the Republic of Ireland.
White kerchief, pure white, innocent,
Peace, no harm, I mean no harm,
Pure,
Tainted crimson with the blood of the holder,
Seeping, corrupting the ivory white,
A bang and another falls into the grimy streets, to clutch at wounds burned into broken trust,
Trust held close to hearts searching for an answer to the violence surrounding,
Trust now shattered, torn down and put away,
A mockery of the bodies lying in the alleys,
And the frightened figures who watch as the army descends,
Wishing to be able to mop up those who cannot get up,
But knowing that it is death,
Gunshots to the back,
Fleeing figures, screaming for mercy,
Another crack and that figure falls too,
A silhouette turns and rushes back,
Trying to urge them on,
The thieves take him too,
The reaper claims many on this day,
All he must do is stretch out his fearsome hand,
And the guns will do the rest,
A town will bath in blood tonight,
-Innocence’s blood,
Of those too young to go with the reaper,
The city hears their whispers as the reaper reaches relentlessly,-
And clean itself with tears,
With Bloody Sunday branded like a live coal into the hearts of the world,
Never to be forgotten,
How could it be?
In city streets, blood gleams scarlet with the setting sun,
The day innocence could not survive.
1. The major conflict in Northern Ireland during the last three decades has involved the issue between the Catholics and Protestants in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Catholics want Northern Ireland to merge into Ireland and be controlled by the Catholics [mostly Irish] and the Protestants want to keep Northern Ireland under the control of the British. The Catholics also feel like they have been discriminated against by the Protestants, leading to discontent and ultimately violence in the past several decades.
ReplyDelete2. In 1921, the government of Great Britain and the government of Ireland signed the Anglo Irish Treaty that ended the Irish War of Independence. This treaty created the Irish Free State, which meant that Ireland was still part of the British Empire but would govern itself. It also gave the option for Northern Ireland to withdraw from the Irish Free State, which it ended up doing, officially creating a boundary between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. The IRA disagreed with the treaty because they felt like it was disloyal to the Republic of Ireland (established in 1916 but never recognized by the British) and they began fighting, which began the Irish Civil War.
3. The Troubles: In Northern Ireland, the Catholics, the minority, were harassed by police and discriminated against politically. The new Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Terence O’Neill, met with the Prime Minister of Ireland, trying to help the social problems in Northern Ireland, which made many Protestants feel threatened.
In 1966, the murders of two Catholics and one Protestant by the Protestant group Ulster Volunteer Force resulted in the breakout of a series of violent riots. The Catholics formed a group called The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (Nicra), because they felt O’Neill wasn’t going to follow up on his promise to reform the social aspects of Northern Ireland. Civil rights marches, led by a group called People’s Democracy as well as Nicra, became violent, and O’Neill followed up on his promise of reform. This didn’t satisfy the Catholics, and O’Neill resigned in 1969.
His successor, James Chichester-Clark, tried to continue reforms, however there was continued violence surrounding the Catholics and the Protestants. The Provisional IRA (PIRA) broke away from the IRA, stating that they would go to any length to merge Ireland and Northern Ireland. On the flip side, the UVF merged with the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). The British Army now intervened, but nothing could be done to stop both groups. In 1971, there were more deaths than ever (150 in just a few months) and the British Army became more and more hostile, forceful, and destructive.
On January 30, 1972, the British Army opened fire on unarmed civilians during a civil rights march, killing 14, and wounding many others in the event now known as “Bloody Sunday.” Violence grew, and at the end of 1972, there was a total death toll of 496.
Bombings by the IRA continued, claiming more lives, and no peace agreements were successful in ending the violence. The captured rebels held hunger strikes and other protests from within prison, creating more havoc.
Finally in November 1985, the Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed, confirming that Northern Ireland would remain separate from the Republic of Ireland, but giving more independence to the Republic. Many unionists disagreed with the agreement because they felt that it signified that Northern Ireland and the Republic would never merge, however the violence began a decline.
4. The British Army’s presence in Northern Ireland has greatly influenced the conflict. They intervened to try and stop the conflicts but their presence angered many unionists, ultimately leading to more violence. The army itself became frustrated as well, and committed atrocious acts of violence, such as on Bloody Sunday of 1972.
5. The IRA is the Irish Republican Army and they want the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to unite, and to be independent from all British control.
ReplyDelete6. During a civil rights march in 1972, the British Army opened fire on unarmed and relatively peaceful Catholic protesters, killing 14, and wounding many others. The IRA gained many more recruits as a result, and the Catholics attacked the British Army with renewed vigor. More troops were deployed from Britain to try and quench this rising violence.
7. The IRA proclaimed a cease-fire in 1994 (later broken by the NRA), but they declared a second cease-fire in 1997. Also in 1997 formal peace talks began between 8 major Northern Ireland political parties and Sinn Fein, the political division of the IRA, president Gerry Adams and Second-in-Command Martin McGuinness. After 19 months of negotiations, the Good Friday Agreement (or the Belfast Agreement) was signed.
This agreement stated that Protestants must share political power with Catholics, and that the Republic of Ireland had some say in Northern Ireland affairs. However, the Republic had to abandon the hope of a united Ireland unless Northern Ireland voted in favor of such an arrangement.
8. President Bill Clinton sought to finally see peace between Northern Ireland and the Republic. He gave a US visa to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in 1994, which angered England, but he hoped would help the situation in Northern Ireland. He also visited Northern Ireland three times, giving hope to the people that something would be done to create peace.
Despite this, President Clinton stressed that peace was up to the people. “Difficult, sometimes wrenching decisions lie ahead but they must be made," Clinton said. "The spirit of reconciliation must be rooted in all you do."
9. Currently IRA leader Martin McGuinness and Protestant priest Ian Paisley both hold high places in the Northern Ireland government. Catholics also now have more political say. Both of these factors seem to indicate that the situation in Northern Ireland is becoming more fair for all involved.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades? The major conflict is for the last three decades, British Protestants strive to maintain Northern Ireland as part of Great Britain. The Irish Catholics are very reluctant to submit to the British power, and constantly strive for independence, thus causing unrest in Northern Ireland.
ReplyDelete2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921. In 1921, a treaty passed declaring Ireland an independent country. However, Northern Ireland was still property of the British, initially continuing the conflict. The country was divided into 26 Catholic countries in the south, and 6 Protestant countries in the north. Although this treaty allowed some progress, the Irish wanted complete independence from the British government.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985. The Troubles refers to fighting in Ireland, which lasted for three decades. The Troubles started in 1968, as the British strived to maintain their section of Ireland as dominantly Protestant, and the Irish tried to unite both sections of Ireland, and live peacefully. The British however were unwilling to live as equal, and as the IRA strived for equality, the British defiantly attacked, instigating notable events such as bloody Sunday and bloody Friday.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle? The British army constantly gave the Protestants dominance; such as for example the white race was given dominance over blacks in America during the American civil war. The British put several restrictions on the Catholics, so much that the IRA formed as a rebellion group in order to maintain as much power as they could by composing riots. When the British army first came to Ireland, their job was to help the police control the riots, but instead, they simply killed the rebelling Irish. This in turn caused even more conflict between the two parties.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for? The I.R.A. is the Irish Republican Army. The I.R.A. fought to clear the British out of Ireland, and protect the Catholic minority. Their intention was to gain independence from Great Britain.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle. On January 30th of 1972, British soldiers shot 27 Irish civil rights protestors in Derry, Ireland. This event raised even more unrest because the British bombarded innocent Irish Catholics.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful? There were two cease-fire movements, however the first attempt in 1994 failed by the NRA, the second in 1997, which was later followed by the Belfast agreement in 1998. The British and Irish political parties negotiated and composed the Belfast or “Good Friday” agreement, a treaty that introduced power-sharing government officials to rule. This political arrangement still exists today, between the British who strive to maintain their power in Ireland, and the Irish who still believe the future of Northern Ireland is to be independent from Great Britain, and united with Southern Ireland.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved? Bill Clinton paid three visits to Northern Ireland during his presidency to help the two parties negotiate their way to peace. He spoke at a rally and helped inspire the political leaders to compose the Belfast agreement of 1998.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides? The government now has two executive leaders, Ian Paisley representing the Protestant party, and Martin McGuinness representing the Catholic party. As a reflection upon the Belfast agreement, both leaders share equal power over Northern Ireland.
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ReplyDelete1. In the last three decades the Catholics in Northern Ireland wished all of Ulster would be a part of the Republic of Ireland. The Protestants in Northern Ireland want to be a part of Great Britain. The Catholics and the Protestants have being been fighting with each other because of this issue.
ReplyDelete2. In 1921 the Irish War of Independence ended with British Government proposing a truce, which the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, creating the Irish Free State. The Irish War of Independence was also known as the Anglo-Irish War. It began in January 1919 followed by the Irish Republic's Declaration of Independence. The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in London on December 6, 1921 then the treaty a year created the Irish Free State later.
3. In 1963 Viscount Brookeborough failed to address the weakening of their economy, and then members from his party forced Brookeborough out. A former army officer, Terence O'Neill, replaced him who introduced ways to improve the economy. If he wanted his program of modernization to succeed he would have to address Northern Ireland's political and social issues. Brookeborough met with the Republic of Ireland’s prime minister, Sean Lemass, and put out a proposal to the nationalist community in the north. In 1966, violence broke out with the Battle of the Somme and the Easter Rising. In May and June there were murders of two Catholics and a Protestant by a group called the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Terence O’Neil banned the UVF but it was too late because “the cycle of sectarian bloodletting that would become known as ‘the Troubles’ had already claimed its first victims,” (BBC History).
4. The British army was there to help the police control the breakouts, but ended up adding more to the conflict. Their presence angered the unionists, which led to more violence.
5. The IRA is the Irish Republican Army they want Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to come together. They want the British army to hand over Ireland to them.
6. Bloody Sunday also known, as The Bogside Massacre was the day innocence died. The incident happened in Derry, Northern Ireland in January 30th 1972. Members of the British Parachute Regiment shot 27 civil rights protesters, 13 of who were teenagers, died immediately. Army vehicles ran two injured protesters downed, witnesses say all the shot were unarmed and five who were wounded were shot in the back. This increased more tension to the Catholics.
7. In 1994, the IRA proclaimed cease-fired, but the NRA broke it. Then in 1997 there was another cease-fired, and a year later the British and the Irish signed the Belfast Agreement, is an international agreement between the two governments. It was a major step toward the Northern Ireland peace process. There is a power-share between the Unionists who want Northern Ireland to be a part of Britain, and the Nationalists who want Ireland to come together.
8. Bill Clinton motivated US companies to bring economic investment to Northern Ireland. He made three peace visits to Dublin and Belfast, the first one was in 1995, second in 1998, and the third was in 2000. He also influenced political leaders to compromise with each other and to put together a peace agreement that was signed in 1998.
9. The current president of Northern Ireland is Ian Paisley who is a protestant, and the Deputy first Minister is Martin McGuinness, a Catholic. Both sides are balanced because Catholics and Protestant have represented in the government.
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ReplyDelete1. The major issue in Northern Ireland during the last three decades centers around the desire to have the British withdrawal out of Northern of Ireland. The Protestant Unionist community believes it should remain part of the United Kingdom and the Catholic Nationalist community believes it should leave the UK and become part of the Republic of Ireland. This is conflict is riddled with political and religious ties that have been going on for centuries.
ReplyDelete2. Northern Ireland was established as a distinct region of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on May 3rd, 1921 under the terms of the Government of Ireland Act 1920. A ceasefire between the IRA and the British forces led to the eventual signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in July, 1921. The ceasefire ended in 1923.
3. “The Troubles” were a series of recurring acts of violence that lasted almost three decades. 3,254 people were killed during this conflict between Northern Ireland’s Nationalist community, which is mainly Roman Catholic, and the Unionist community, which consists mainly of Protestants. The conflict was sparked by the uncertain status of Ireland within the United Kingdom and the discrimination of the minority Nationalist group by the much larger unionist group.
4. It has increased tensions in Northern Ireland, the Catholics feel threatened by the fact that a foreign army is occupying their territory. The British army fired in on people during a civil rights movement in 1972 killing 14 Catholic protestors; this event came to be known as Bloody Sunday This has led to a violent opposition to the British presence in Northern Ireland.
5. The Irish Republic Army (IRA) is a radical organization devoted to removing British forces from Northern Ireland and unifying Ireland. The IRA uses terrorist style methods like bombings, assassinations, and extortion in attempts to achieve their goal of Northern Ireland becoming part of the Republic of Ireland.
6. Bloody Sunday took place January 30th, 1992 in Derry, Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was marching against internment and twenty-seven civilians were injured. Members of the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment killed fourteen people that day. This fueled the Roman Catholics who believed all the inquiries into the massacre were whitewashed causing further conflict between the Nationalists and the Unionists groups.
7. Negotiations took place between the political parties and the British and Irish governments. The Good Friday agreement was created and signed and was a major step in the peace process. Unfortunately
8. Bill Clinton had an important role in helping Northern Ireland’s divided community to sit down together with open minds to try to find a way to end the violence and inequality of their past. During his white house campaign Bill Clinton made a pledge to send a peace envoy to Northern Ireland and he lived up to his promises. Bill Clinton’s de facto peace envoy is regarded as the most important foreign policy decision of his administration. He provided a respected and impartial figure, George Mitchell, to try to find a political settlement in Northern Ireland, between the north and south, Dublin and London.
9. The situation is much the same, although the IRA ceasefire is still in place, which is why there has been little bloodshed. The Republic of Ireland now have a say in the affairs in the North, there is a power sharing government there is little to no discrimination in the workforce or between the citizens of the North of Ireland. However despite this a united Ireland is not in sight. There is still conflict in Northern Ireland and as a result gunmen and bombers have not completely vanished; the conflict and the violence continue to fuel each other. Whenever there is political unrest, both sides believe they are right, thus you could argue that both sides feel the current political situation is unfair. Despite this I feel that the current political situation is far better than it was 30 years ago.
Elle Lichter
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
World History Web quest: Northern Ireland
What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
For the last three decades, Ireland has been fighting a bloody civil war. Sixty percent of Ireland is Protestant and forty percent is Catholic. The three decades of violence, known as The Troubles, has brought over 3,500 deaths. Essentially, the Catholics want to separate from Britain, while the Protestants wish to remain politically attached. The Catholics formed a defense group called the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and have been frequently bombing the Protestants and sometimes even the mainland.
Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
The British government pushed the home rule (in 1921), in which Protestants would have a place of their own to live, in response to the Ulster question. The Ulster is in Northern Ireland, which the British own. The solution to the problem divided Ireland into two parts. The Ulster would be the ‘north’, where the Protestants could live, and the remaining 26 predominantly Catholic counties would be the ‘south.’ The IRA was formed when the split took place in order to advocate rights for the Catholics in the North. Unfortunately, they used violence as a way to get their point across.
Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
As a result of World War II, Britain and Northern Ireland’s economies were booming in the 1950’s. However, by the 60’s, these started to decline and Terence O'Neill, former army officer, was put in office to restore the economy. O’Neill put a variety of bold measures in effect, but knew for them to be effective, he would have to address the political and social problems in Northern Ireland. He met with the head of Ireland, and they tentatively proposed peace to nationalist community, who want to remain with Britain. This dramatically took a wrong turn and violence burst out in 1966, when two Catholics and one Protestant were murdered. The Protestants formed a defense group, Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and they fought constantly with the IRA. Even though British troops began to get involved, more than 3,000 people have been killed.
How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The army came into Ireland when the rebellions began to escalate. The British army attempted to control the riots of the IRA by imposing a curfew and searching houses, but it only lead to more recruits to the rebel cause. Instead of helping, they killed civilians and furthered the rebel cause.
Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
ReplyDeleteThe IRA, Irish Republican Army was formed to defend the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland. The Provisional IRA (PIRA) fought with violence to pressure Britain into relinquishing Northern Ireland.
What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
Bloody Sunday was an incident which occurred in Derry,Northern Ireland, on 30 January 1972. Members of the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment shot seven Catholic civil rights protesters. THis was very important because the British Army killed 14 people and wounded many others, in broad daylight. This pushed even more people to join the IRA’s cause.
What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
A cease fire was initiated in 1994. Though it was broken by the NRA, another was came into place in 1997. Ireland and Britain, one year later, signed the Belfast Agreement, or the Good Friday Agreement. A power sharing government, between the Unionists and the Nationalists, is now implemented. This has been very successful because there has been little violence in Northern Ireland since.
How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
Clinton first got involved when he gave Sinn Fien president, Gerry Adams, a US visa, believing that it would further peace. He visited Ireland 3 times during his presidency to further peace. His first visit was after 15 months after the IRA announced its first ceasefire, which they later broke. He also employed a peace envoy, George Mitchell, who has encouraged peace between the two sides.
What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
A protestant priest, Ian Paisley, is the President of Northern Ireland. Also, Catholic holds the position of Deputy first Minister. This gives both sides equal power and say in the government.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteThe Catholics in Northern Ireland have felt as though they are being discriminated against. Catholics felt that the police were harassing them. They were also very unhappy with the fact that they were not allowed any representation in Parliament even though they make up 40.3% of the population. There have been riots (sponsored by the I.R.A. sometimes), that the English army has had to put down, and the violence between the two sides has only lead to a more stressful conflict.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
On December 6th, Britain and Ireland signed the Anglo-Irish treaty. This agreement allowed Ireland to leave the United Kingdom, but also gave Northern Ireland to stay (and opt out of the Irish Free State). Northern Ireland did end up leaving the Irish Free State.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
The Ulster Volunteer Force was established in 1966 in response to the revival of the Irish Republican Army. The UVF was responsible for the assassination of several Catholics. Citizens began to get more and more involved in the fighting, and the violence only increased. Citizens, organizations, and police forces were all fighting each other. In 1985, Britain and Ireland signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which gave the Irish and advisory role in the Northern Ireland government. The agreement also stated that the people of Northern Ireland could choose to join Ireland if the majority of the citizens agreed. This agreement by no means ended the fighting, but it definitely was a good step in trying to solve the issue.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British army’s presence in Northern Ireland is mainly to protect its own people. So, when the Catholics and the Protestants are fighting, the British Army is really going to only add more power and violence to the Protestant side. Really they have only elevated the conflict because once they join in, the government of Ireland also wants to join and protect the Catholics. So the violence ends up being between two countries rather than a few people of two different religions.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
ReplyDeleteThe Irish Republican Army was fighting for the Irish Republic. The Irish Republic consisted of modern Ireland and Northern Ireland and only lasted from 1919 to 1922. So, after 1922, the IRA’s goal was to do away with the two current governments and go back to the one that existed in 1919. Of course, most Protestants did not want this, but the IRA remained active anyway for the purpose of representing the Catholics (mainly in Northern Ireland). The British army and the UVF, however, supported the Protestants and conflict arose out of this.
6. What happened on bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle?
The British army was marching in Derry, Northern Ireland and they were experiencing some rioting from some local teenagers. One, who was reported (by the British army) to have been armed, was shot at. Later, the army got reports of nearby IRA snipers and this got them frightened. The commander allowed them to open fire, but the soldiers did not cease-fire when they were told to. The army shot and killed 14 innocents and the event has been a source of dispute ever since.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
The IRA declared to ceasefires – one in 1975 and one in 1994. However, both of these ceasefires ended up being broken. However in 1998, both the British and the Irish governments signed the Belfast Agreement, which greatly decreased the fighting since. The agreement stated that the constitutional status of Northern Ireland could only be changed by a majority vote of its citizens. This greatly strengthened treaty-relations between the U.K. and Ireland, and the countries have gotten along much better ever since.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
Bill Clinton promised (when first campaigning for President) that he would call for a peace between Ireland and Britain. The former president oversaw the discussion between the two countries and made many phone calls to each of them during the period leading up to Good Friday. He was very involved in the peace process. He visited Dublin and Belfast more than any other president.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
The Northern Ireland Assembly runs on a “Consociational Democracy” which allows the different groups of people in Northern Ireland to get a say in their legislature. Also, a Protestant man named Ian Paisely is the First Minister of Northern Ireland while a Catholic man named Martin McGuinness is the current Deputy First Minister. Many people see this as a step forward in regards to the representation of both religious groups.
Part 1:
ReplyDelete1. Northern Ireland’s population is about 45% Catholic and 55% Protestant and over the last three decades, the two groups have developed a multitude of issues. Protestants are focused on preserving ties with Britain and opposing the concept of a united Ireland, separated from protestant Britain. Catholics, on the other hand, see the issues as either a nationalist plight to rescue Northern Ireland, or a battle against corruption and the tyrannical Unionists. Most Catholics want to unite Ireland to create a land where Catholics and Protestants can live in harmony but the last thirty years of turmoil have made their hopes look dismal. The major issues that divide the two parties are violence, politics, religion, and inequality. The two communities are highly segregated, raising generation after generation of bias and inequality. The truth is that Catholics have more socio-economic drawbacks but both parties believe that the other is favored.
2. In 1921, a civil war broke out between the countries who willingly accepted settlement from Britain and the countries who considered it treason. The southern 26 countries gained independence from the Britain. However, the six countries that remained in the possession of the UK were given the name Northern Ireland. The Catholic minority in Northern Ireland has been subject to maltreatment ever since.
3. In the 1960s a civil rights movement took place petitioning access to political power, social provision, and cultural acknowledgment. In 1969 the British government deployed their army to quell the movement. The nationalists saw this as an act of oppression so in retaliation, they formed the IRA from the militant Catholic minority. In response to this, the Protestant loyalists became violent as well. In order to end this vicious cycle, the London parliament created the “Government of Ireland Act,” which abolished the current government of Northern Ireland. Then, Northern Ireland was to be ruled by Britain. This conflict was given the name “The Troubles.”
4. The British army and its presence in Northern Ireland has done nothing to cease the struggle for peace. Instead, they only add fuel to the fire by persecuting Catholic civilians. They appear to be partial to the Protestants and have only assisted the majority as apposed to sympathizing with the minority. They only antagonized the rioters and proved their point by being tyrannical and murderous.
5. The IRA, or the Irish Republican Army, was the official military organization of Ireland. Their purpose was to remove the British presence from Northern Ireland and merge with Northern Ireland to form the Republic of Ireland so they waged war on Britain using guerrilla warfare tactics.
Part 2:
ReplyDelete6. “Bloody Sunday” was the name given to a march in protest of the British presence in Ireland. They protesters left from the Creggan area of Derry at 2:50 p.m. and took an indirect route to Bogside. Eye witnesses claim as many as 20,000 protesters; however, the Widgery Report estimates that only 3,000-5,000 were present. However, at 3:45 p.m. the group was confronted by the British Army. Within 10 minutes, British troops had begun open fire on the protesters. Simultaneously, as the riot was breaking apart, paratroopers requested permission to arrest the participants. At approximately 4:10 pm “Support Company of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment began to open fire on the marchers in the Rossville Street area. By about 4:40 pm the shooting ended with 13 people dead and a further 13 injured from gunshots.”
7. Two cease-fires were established to cease the violence in Northern Ireland. The first, was put into place in 1994, however this was unsuccessful due to the NRA. The second was developed in 1997 and on Good Friday of 1998, the Belfast Agreement was signed by both the Irish and the British. The agreement entails that Northern Ireland will remain under British control until the majority wishes for independence.
8. Former President Bill Clinton has made several visits to Northern Ireland and efforts to promote peace between the British and Irish. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, made seven visits to Northern Ireland between 1995 and 2004 to encourage a peaceful future between the Protestant Unionists and the Catholic Nationalists.
9. The current government of Northern Ireland is fair because a Protestant priest and an I.R.A member both hold high positions. Thus, representing both the majority and minority’s interests with equal importance.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteWhen Britain gave Ireland its independence, they kept the Northern part of Ireland to maintain their power. Most of Ireland is Catholic and they do not want part of their country to be Protestant. Ireland wants to be their own, whole country without part of it belonging to the British.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In 1921, Britain gave Ireland its independence but kept Northern Ireland as part of Britain. That caused conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants because the Catholics want all of Ireland to be Catholic without having part of it being Protestant.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
“The troubles” was a time of conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants, when the I.R.A. had many terrorist and bloody killings in Britain and in Northern Ireland. There were many riots and attacks on towns and public places that killed many people.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British army and its presence in Northern Ireland has negatively influenced the struggle because the Irish feel demoralized. Britain has come in to Northern Ireland and exerted their power to try and stop the I.R.A. from having attacks on Britain and Northern Ireland. The Irish feel that this is not fair and they want Britain out of their country, so they are going to keep fighting.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
I.R.A. stands for the Irish Republican Army, and they are fighting because they want Ireland to be united and whole. The I.R.A. is fighting to get rid of the British troops. They strongly believe that all of Ireland should be whole, have a common religion (catholic), language and currency. The I.R.A. does not want Britain to have any power in their country.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
On Bloody Sunday, fourteen innocent people were killed and others injured by a British Parachute Regiment. This incident has made other countries realize what is actually happening in Northern Ireland. Bloody Sunday made people want to stop the I.R.A. and all the bloody killings that are cause by the I.R.A.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
Gerry Adams rose to political power in the Sinn Féin, a political voice in the I.R.A. He tried to reform the group from a terrorist group to a mainstream political group. Gerry Adams tried to stop the I.R.A, and he stopped the majority of attacks on Northern Ireland, although there is still some fighting.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
Bill Clinton made two speeches in Ireland and he talked about Ireland’s conflict between the Catholics and Protestants. He asked the people to think about moving towards peace and working together.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
The current situation is that both the Protestants and Catholics have a leader in political power. Since both sides have someone representing them in government, I think it is fair to both sides.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteThere has been a dispute between two plitiical parties in Ireland, the nationalists and the unionists. The nationalists want to belong to the republic of Ireland and the unionists want to continue to be a part of the United Kingdom. Also, the unionists are mostly made up of Catholics, while the nationalists are mostly Protestants. The Catholics feel that the Protestants are discriminating against them. The Protestants, obviously, feel they are not.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In 1921, a treaty, called the “Anglo-Irish treaty,” was signed creating what is now known as the Republic of Ireland from twenty-three southern counties and three counties in Ulster.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
“The troubles” was a time when the conflict between the nationalists and unionists reached a high point and fighting ensued. Viscount Brookeborough was replaced by Terence O'Neill, who immediately introduced radical new measures to improve Ireland’s struggling economy. He met with Sean Lemass, the Republic of Ireland's prime minister; this was the first meeting between leaders of Irish government for 40 years. Rioting and disorder broke out which eventually lead to the murders of two Catholics and a Protestant by a terror group called the Ulster Volunteer Force. O’Neill banned this group, but it was too late, the cycle of violence that would come to be known as “the troubles” had already been set in motion.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British army was initially sent in to attempt to restore peace, but its presence ultimately only lead to more violence. Rather than help quell the riots, like they were supposed to, the army simply killed those rebelling. This caused much unease in the Irish community.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
I.R.A. is an acronym for “Irish Republican Army.” Their mission was to keep Ireland together as one throughout the fighting and conflicts.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
The event known as “bloody Sunday” took place, when, During a civil rights parade, a group of teens attempted to cross police barricades. These teens were gunned down by British soldiers. Thirteen died instantly, and one died several months later from complications of injuries received on bloody Sunday.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
In 1994, the IRA declared a cease fire. However, it did not last long; it was broken by the NRA. In 1997 another was declared in 1997 and has been kept.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
In 1992 Bill Clinton called for a cease-fire. Bill made three peace visits to Ireland, one in 1995, one in 1998, and one in 2000
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Ireland still remains a part of the United Kingdom, seeming unfair to the many people who wish to separate. Also, members from both sides of the conflict hold high positions in the government. This allows for bipartisan government, making sure both side’s opinions are heard.
1. Northern Ireland is made up of both Protestants and Catholics. The Protestant party is the dominating party and the Catholics are unhappy with this. The Catholics, therefore wanted to become part of Ireland, which is no longer part of Britain, where the Catholic religion is dominant. The Protestants, however, do not want to separate from Britain where their religion is dominant. The Catholics and Protestants have been fighting within Northern Ireland to resolve this disagreement.
ReplyDelete2. The Anglo Irish Treaty was agreed to in 1921. This treaty made Ireland its own country (almost). Ireland was allowed to have its own army and be considered free, however it would remain with British commonwealth. Britain was allowed to have a representative in Ireland and allowed to keep some naval bases in Irish waters.
3. "The Troubles" refers to the alienation of the Catholic community in Northern Ireland. The Catholic party was discriminated against and excluded in political dealings. There is less government funding for Catholics than for Protestant. Many other advantages were given to Protestants that were not given to Catholics.
4. The British army’s presence in Northern Ireland has only led to more violence and has caused the Catholic community to lump the Protestants and the British together even more and therefore turn against both of them.
5. The IRA is the Ireland Republican Army and they are fighting to make the Irish Republic free of Britain. The IRA is basically an unofficial group fighting against Britain.
6. 27 civil rites protestors were shot by British army soldiers. This event represents the struggle between those who wish to separate from Britain and the British who don’t want to lose a part of their empire.
7. 7. All of the contending parties finally came together and signed the Downing street declaration which called for all parties to stop fighting. They also signed the Framework document in 1995 which addressed crucial political issues. This helped settle the conflict down a little, but there is still a large difference in opinion. The opposing sides continue to fight, but they are not as out in the open about it as they were before.
8. Bill Clinton tried to get the various parties to agree to the peace treaty.
9. Currently the political situation is that the opposing groups have officially agreed to the peace treaties but they are secretly fighting each other still. No, the conflict is unfair to both sides. Both sides are suffering casualties and families not violently involved in the conflict are losing loved ones all because of a disagreement.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteThe major issue in Northern Ireland over the last three decades has been the dispute between the Protestant and the Catholics. The Catholics in Northern Ireland would like to unite with the Republic of Ireland, but the Protestants want to remain part of the United Kingdom. Then the Irish Republican Army (IRA) began terrorist attacks when politics failed to unify the country.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In 1921 Sinn Fein, and other IRA members signed a treaty with the British, accepting the separation of Ireland. This treaty created the Irish Free State, or Republic of Ireland, out of 23 southern counties and 3 counties in Ulster. The left over counties of Ulster formed Northern Ireland.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
In 1963 Viscount Brookeborough was forced out of power in Britain. He was replaced by Terence O’Neill whose policies regarding Ireland provoked unionist attacks. This led to the forming of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). British forces marched into Northern Ireland to stop the UVF and IRA from killing each other. “The troubles” finally ended in 1985 when Margaret Thatcher, the British Prime Minister, and Garret Fitzgerald, the Irish head of state, signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
4. How have the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
Although the British Army entered Northern Ireland to put an end to “the troubles” it only infuriated the Catholics farther, ensuing more violence.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for.
The I.R.A., or Irish Republican Army, was a Catholic group in Northern Ireland who wanted to become part of the Republic of Ireland, and to be completely freed from British control.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
On January 30, 1972, the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment fired upon 15,000 peaceful, protesting Catholics in Derry, Northern Ireland. The Catholics had continued to protest after the British had named the march illegal. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing 14 people.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
In 1994, a cease-fire was declared, but was soon broken by the NRA. A new one was then started again in 1997. The Good Friday Agreement was then endorsed the next year.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
He visited Dublin and Belfast three times to aid in the peace process and he presented Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams with a US visa.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is it fair to both sides?
I do believe that it is fair to both sides, since both sides have a place in the government. There are both a Protestant priest, Ian Paisley, and an I.R.A. leader, Martin McGuiness in the government.
1. The Protestant govt. which has been in control of Northern Ireland for the past 3 decades has been in favor of British Rule wants to keep things the way they are. The Nationalists, The Catholics, want representation in their territory. The largely Protestant government put Catholic s in different schools, and made voting in favor of the Protestants. The Catholics were not represented in parliament and were harassed by the government. The I.R.A. has been terrorizing the people and bombing the citizens.
ReplyDelete2. The 26 predominately Catholic counties became the “Irish Free State” under the Government of Ireland Act. The partition also made the 6 Protestant counties “Northern Ireland.” Northern Ireland was still considered part of Great Britain.
3. “The Troubles” were a period of civil unrest in Northern Ireland. Protestants and Catholics fought constantly and Protests were common. Riots and hunger strikes were a regular ritual. Many deaths were caused by the Bombings and Demonstrations. Despite the British troops sent to end the madness, the riots continued. The civil war ended with the Anglo-Irish Agreement that gave Britain ownership but Ireland a voice in the Northern Ireland affairs.
4. The British Army has only made the Catholics more separatist. I can best relate the situation to the hate the Colonists felt toward to Redcoats during the Revolutionary war. To the Protestants, the troops are helpful, but the Catholics feel like foreign forces are invading their land who have no right being there. The hate is shared between the Soldiers and The Catholics. The Soldiers take the liberty to open fire on innocent and peaceful protesters. This heightens the situation and the mutual hate.
5. The IRA has two sections, the IRA(official IRA), and the Provisional IRA (unofficial). The latter is much more violent and wants Northern Ireland to break away from Britain. While each group claims its main goal is to defend the Catholic Community, however the Provisional section uses the tactics of Guerilla Warfare bombing public places and murdering leaders.
6. On Bloody Sunday or the Bogside Massacre, January 30, 1972, 13 innocent protesters were killed by British Forces. The paratroopers open-fired on protesters (7 of the 13 were teenagers). The shots still ring loud in the ears of friends and family of the Martyrs. Derry was never left the same after the massacre. Bloody Sunday angered the Catholics and the IRA took action.
7. Several attempts have been made to end the violence, once in 1994 which was broken by the NRA and formed again in 1997. The Good Friday or the Belfast Agreement signed by Britain and Ireland allowed the people to decide whether Northern Ireland should belong to Britain or Ireland. It must be a two-thirds majority. Both parties have agree to settle disputes civilly and peacefully.
8. Clinton became a mediator that could bring both sides together and allow them to democratically resolve issues. He spoke at Belfast and Dublin giving hope that the end is near for both parties. He also granted Sinn Fein Leader, Gary Adams, a US visa.
9. Northern Ireland has representation of both Parties in leadership, Protestant Ian Paisley (President), and Catholic Martin McGuinness (Deputy First Minister). Equal representation helps the situation to become more balanced.
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ReplyDelete*NRA on my comment earlier was a typo... I meant to write IRA.
ReplyDelete1. The major conflict in Northern Ireland has been one between Catholics and Protestants. Due to British Protestant rule of Northern Ireland, many Catholics there are not given fair treatment, and some believe that Northern Ireland should become a part of the Republic of Ireland, while the Protestants wish to remain part of Britain. A radical Catholic group known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been bombing the British Army and predominately Protestant cities.
ReplyDelete2. In 1921 Great Britain granted Ireland its independence, creating the Irish Free State, or Irish Republic, out of 23 southern counties and 3 counties of Ulster. The other 6 counties of Ulster make up Northern Ireland, which Great Britain kept as part of the United Kingdom.
3. The Troubles were a period of great violence between Catholics and Protestants, and this conflict is even sometimes referred to as a civil war. It began when Terrence O'Neill, a viscount of Northern Ireland, met with the Irish head of state. This worried many Protestants, which led to the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force, or UVF, a Protestant counterpart to the Catholic IRA. These two groups fought constantly with each other, while British troops came in to enforce the rule of law within Northern Ireland. The British presence, unfortunately, created even more chaos.
4. The British presence fostered unease and resentment in Catholics, driving many to join the IRA and work to undermine the British efforts.
5. IRA, or Irish Republican Army, is a Catholic group in Ireland fighting to bring Northern Ireland into the Irish Republic.
6. Bloody Sunday occurred in Derry, Northern Ireland, on January 30, 1972. Members of the British Parachute Regiment shot 28 civil rights protesters, 14 of whom were killed. This greatly worsened the British image within Northern Ireland, increasing resentment towards British rule.
7. The IRA proclaimed a cease-fire in 1994, but they later broke it. A second cease-fire was proclaimed in 1997, followed a year later by the Belfast Agreement, which states that Northern Ireland will be a part of the UK as long as the majority within Northern Ireland agrees to this.
8. Bill Clinton was highly involved in the peace process, visiting Dublin and Belfast several times as well as making many calls to leaders on both sides, aiding greatly in the processes that produced the Belfast Agreement.
9. Currently Ian Paisley, a Protestant priest, and Martin McGuiness, the Catholic leader of the IRA, both hold high positions within the government. This indicates that both sides are now receiving fairer representation within the government of Northern Ireland.
BTW - NRA was a typo! NRA = National Rifle Association. I meant the IRA broke the ceasefire... not the NRA
ReplyDelete1. In the last 3 decades there was major dispute between the Protestants and the Catholics both situated in Ireland. The Catholics wanted for Ireland to be unified where as the Protestants (just like protesters) wanted to still remain part of Great Britain. Ever since this issue came about, the Catholics and Protestants have been fighting against each other.
ReplyDelete2. A treaty was signed in 1921 declaring the Irish Free State (Republic of Ireland) from 23 southern countries and 3 countries in Ulster. The other 6 countries of Ulster made up northern Ireland, which remained part of the UK. The British also controlled all of Ireland but eventually gave up the southern part, which caused even more conflict.
3. Bloody Sunday occurred during this time when violence erupted again when British troops were brought in to restore order, but the conflict became more intense as the IRA and Protestant paramilitary groups carried out bombings and other acts of terrorism. This became known as the Troubles. This was also the most intense fighting part between the Protestants and the Catholics and during this time many riots and rebels were out and about. This act resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians.
4. It greatly worsened problems instead of helping them. Even though the British army came in with good intentions to try to put an end to the violence, it didn’t work but instead ended up causing unease and more problems then there already were before hand.
5. The I.R.A. stands for the Irish Republican Army. After the struggle in question 4 where the British Army was still a problem in Ireland, the IRA’s main goal was to solve this conflict by forcing the British Army out. They also wanted to break apart from Britain and for Ireland to be part of the Irish Republic.
6. Bloody Sunday took place in January 1972. It was an incident where 28 protesters were shot by soldiers of the British Parachute Regiment, fourteen of which died because was a dispute between the civil rights protesters and the British Parachute Regiment. It greatly affected the image of the British in Northern Ireland and even more since they were already having conflicts with each other and this only made it worse. Bloody Sunday also took place during the troubles and was one of the most remembered acts today. The band U2 even wrote a song called, “Bloody Sunday” to honor those who died.
7. Representatives from both the Irish and British governments agreed to call a ceasefire. The first one didn’t work due to the IRA but the second one in 1997 was a success. A short while after, The Belfast Agreement (also known as The Good Friday Agreement) on April 10th, 1998, came to be. It gave formal consent to popular vote in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. It also created an opportunity to restore a devolved government to N. Ireland for the first time since 1973.
8.Clinton first visited Northern Ireland in November 1995, 15 months after the IRA announced its first cease-fire. He spoke at a rally in Belfast and emphasized peace as his main solution. He also later gave several more recent peace talks (and by more recent I mean in the very early 2000s).
9. Both sides (protestant and catholic) have positions in office, for Ian Paisley is a Protestant Priest and the other is an IRA member on the Catholic side so yes, I think it’s fair to both sides.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteOver the last three decades, the major issue has been a disagreement between the Protestants of Northern Ireland and the Catholics of the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland believes that they and Northern Ireland should be a unified country whereas Northern Ireland wants to remain part of the U.K. Many acts of terrorism and violence have ensued from both sides over this issue.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In 1921 the Irish War of Independence ended with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty which established the Irish Free State. 32 counties, containing a majority of protestants, in the newly formed state then enacted the option presented by the treaty to keep it’s old relation with the U.K forming Northern Ireland. This decision sparked much resentment among the Catholic’s of the Irish Free State.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
“The Troubles” was a period of great civil unrest in which protests and counter protests spurned the arrival of the British Army to help with rioting. This in turn led to the formation of the Irish Republican Army in direct opposition to Britian’s presence and to the separation of the two Irish countries. The result was over 3,500 deaths in the following decades involving multiple failed attempts to conclude “The Troubles” in both 1973 and 1985.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British Army was deployed in Northern Ireland with the intention of quelling the riots but it proved to provoke the opposite response. Favoritism of Protestants fueled great hatred and led to the formation of the IRA as a way of rebellion. More violence followed because of their presence even stemming from the within the Army itself.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The IRA stands for Irish Republican Army. Their objective was to push the British Army out of Ireland and have them relinquish their control.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
During a civil rights march in Derry, the British Parachute Regiment 1st Battalion opened fire on 27 participants. This had a great affect on the struggle because it was an extreme act of violence demonstrated by the British Army and led to a heightened support for the IRA.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
There were many attempts to end “The Troubles” and quell the violence in Ireland that ended in failure like the 1973 Sunningdale Agreement and the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement. In 1997, the IRA signed a ceasefire agreement and later the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement was established to end Britain’s Direct Rule over Northern Ireland and restore it’s governement. The IRA ended it’s military campaign later in 2005 and later the British Army ended its military support for Northern Ireland.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
Bill Clinton during his time as President called for ceasefire and visited Dublin and Belfast three times, speaking about what can be done to create peace and boosting moral. He also gave a US Visa to Gerad Adams who is the president of the largest political party in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Ian Paisley of the Protestant party and Martin McGuinness of the Catholic party are now co-executive leaders in Northern Irelands government. Catholics now are given a greater say in government in Northern Ireland and stability throughout Ireland has greatly improved.
1. For the last three decades, the problems plaguing Ireland have been the discord between the Protestants and the Catholic Church that have been tearing the country apart. The Protestants want to remain separate from the Republic of Ireland and remain on Great Britian’s side, while the Catholics wish for the Ulster to be integrated into the Republic. This feuding has caused the I.R.A to commit bombings and other acts of terrorism.
ReplyDelete2. The partition of Ireland in 1921 was a huge moment in the country’s history. During this event Ireland was divided into twenty-six counties known as the Republic of Ireland and six counties known as Northern Ireland. This schism was the result of the Government of Ireland Act passed in 1920. Northern Ireland then chose to become a self-governing province within the United Kingdom.
3. “The troubles” was a chaotic period that engulfed Northern Ireland. This also became known as a civil war between the Catholics and the Protestants. Terence O’Neill arranged a meeting between himself and the Republic of Ireland’s prime minister, Sean Lemass. Policies presented raised the hopes of Catholics and the fears of unionists, causing the situation to become more dangerous. Rioting ensued during May and June of 1966, resulting in the death of two Catholics and a Protestant by a terrorist group called the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). This event and the formation of the terrorist group was only the beginning of a what would be a continuous span of violence. The UVF fought endlessly with the IRA. In 1985, “the troubles” came to an end with the Anglo-Irish Agreement. It states, “Northern Ireland would remain independent of the Republic as long as that was the will of the majority in the north.”
4. Although the British army entered Northern Ireland with good intentions, hoping to ease the tension, they only managed to fan the flames, and make things worse. As a result of their interference, people ended up enlisting in the IRA and getting killed.
5. The IRA, Irish Republic Army, want Northern Ireland to become independent of Britain and rejoin the Republic of Ireland.
6. In 1972, British troops opened fire on protesters during a civil rights march, killing thirteen civilians. Seventeen additional people were injured. The army claims they were provoked, even though the protesters were unarmed and presented no threat to them. Soon the gates were open and the protesters were surrounded by eight armored vehicles. As a result of this incident, the IRA retaliated and gained more support.
7. In 1994, the IRA declared a cease-fire that was then broken by the IRA. A second cease-fire followed in 1997. Then in 1998, the Belfast agreement was signed and it endorsed most Northern Ireland political parties. This agreement gave the Republic of Ireland some pull in Northern Ireland, but dashed any hope of two every becoming one country independent from Britain.
8. President Clinton has paid three visits to Northern Ireland, more than any other US president. Before his first visit, he enraged England be giving Gerry Adams a visa hoping to cause some peace in Northern Ireland. Then in 1992, he appointed George Mitchell as the economic envoy, something that was long sought out by the Irish-American caucus. This later proved to be President Clinton’s most important policy decision of his administration.
9. As of now, the Catholics seem to have been given more political rights. Also both Ian Paisley, a Protestant leader, and Martin McGuiness, the IRA leader, hold high positions in the Northern Ireland government. This current system seems to divide the power more equally than past systems, and will hopefully be able to contain and civil unrest as thing become more fair in Northern Ireland.
1. The major issue in Ireland during the last three decades has been a feud between the United Kingdom/North Ireland Unionists and the IRA/North Ireland Nationalists. The IRA has been fighting Britain to unite all of Ireland under the Republic of Ireland’s control. The Unionists in Northern Ireland, who are predominantly Protestants, want to remain under United Kingdom control. The Nationalists, who are predominantly Catholic, feel they are being discriminated against and want Northern Ireland to be united with the Republic of Ireland under the Republic of Ireland’s control.
ReplyDelete2. In 1921, Northern Ireland was split in two by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Northern Ireland was controlled by Britain, while the rest of Ireland was a separate entity.
3. The Troubles started with the minority of Nationalists in Northern Ireland feeling as though they were being discriminated against by the Northern Ireland/British government. Nationalists began protesting which led to riots between the Nationalists (IRA) and radical Unionists (UVF). Violence between the two continued until there was finally a ceasefire in 1994.
4. The British Army’s presence in Northern Ireland made the Nationalists uneasy and gave them the idea that they were being oppressed by the British government even more.
5. The IRA, or Provisional Irish Republican Army, wanted all of Ireland to be united under control of the Republic of Ireland because of the way Nationalists were being treated in Northern Ireland.
6. On January 30th, 1972 members of the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment opened fire on Nationalist civil rights protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland. 13 people were killed on the spot and another died later of his or her wounds. This outraged Nationalists, fueling even more to join the ranks of the IRA.
7. In 1994, a peace fire was declared, but two years later it was broken with the IRA’s Docklands bombing with more violence ensuing. In 1997, the IRA reinstated their ceasefire as both the IRA and UVF began dividing among themselves. The conflict ended with the Belfast Agreement between the opposing sides.
8. President Bill Clinton gave Gerry Adams a US visa and visited Ireland on several occasions to promote peace.
9. Currently, A protestant and an IRA member both hold high offices in the Northern Ireland government, to say whether or not it is fair now would be naïve because I do not know how the bulk of the Nationalists in Northern Ireland are being treated.
John Heenan
ReplyDeleteNorthern Ireland Webquest Part 1
The major issue in Northern Ireland for the past three decades has been a dispute between the Protestants and Catholics. The Catholics feel that they were oppressed by the Protestants, and many of them want to see Ireland united as one free republic. Other groups feel that Northern Ireland should remain a portion of the United Kingdom, and do not want to see it become an Irish territory. One group of particular prominence, the IRA, developed and began fighting for the freedom of Northern Ireland. They attempted to remove Protestants, thus paving the way to the transfer of Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. The British government sent in the British Army, which it claimed was attempting to keep peace. This led to years of fighting between various factions in Northern Ireland in attempts to control the territory. The IRA has engaged in warfare with the British Army, which it views as an occupying force. Various other groups have been involved in the fighting. The fighting has spilled over into England, with the IRA at one point attempting a mortar attack on 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister.
In 1921 Ireland separated, forming Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, and The Republic of Ireland. This was the beginning of years of violence and fighting, as various groups vied for political control. Several groups, including the IRA, wanted to see Ireland united as a free state. Other groups wanted to maintain Northern Ireland as a territory of the United Kingdom. The UK sent in military units to help keep the peace, and over the course of many years hundred were killed in the fighting for the status of Ireland.
The troubles were a period in Northern Ireland’s history marked by fighting between the Provisional Irish Republican Army, an offshoot of the IRA; certain protestant group; and the British Army. It was a time of heavy violence and fighting. The British Government maintained that the British Army was simply keeping peace and ensuring the right of the people to govern themselves. The IRA claims that the British Army was actively interfering in the region, and viewed them as combatants.
The presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland provided an opposition force for the IRA. It also provided a political point for the IRA to point out the British control of Northern Ireland. The principle conflict has been for political control in Ireland, and the IRA has been able to use the British Army as an example of the control Britain has over the territory. The British Government maintains that the army is only acting as a peace keeping force, and is trying to secure Northern Ireland and ensure the safety of its citizens.
The I.R.A. is the Irish Republican army, a group that is fighting for the reunification of Ireland as an Irish state. It seeks to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and unify it with The Republic of Ireland. At one point, the IRA attempted a strategy of using violent attacks on political structures and military groups to force the British government to withdraw from Northern Ireland, the idea being to make the cost of maintaining a presence in Ireland to high.
Bloody Sunday was an incident that took place on January 30th, 1972 in which twenty seven protestors were shot by British Military units. Fourteen people died as a result of the shooting. Many witnesses have stated that the protestors who were shot were unarmed, and five of them were shot in the back. The British Army alleged that they had received reports of IRA snipers and nail bombs, none of which were ever found. Additionally, there is evidence of one member of the protest drawing a revolver and firing at the British troops. He was identified as being a member of the Original IRA, a faction of the IRA. However, he was never targeted or shot by soldiers of the British Army.
John Heenan
ReplyDeleteNorthern Ireland Webquest Part 2
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, several measures have been taken to improve the situation in Northern Ireland. American and English politicians met with Northern and Southern Ireland politicians to find a power sharing arrangement amicable to both sides that would bring peace to Northern Ireland. This is known as the Belfast Agreement, and it served to end much of the fighting in Northern Ireland. It resolved some territorial disputes, and mandated that all political parties use peaceful and democratic means to achieve their goals, among other things. In addition to the Belfast Agreement, a global crackdown on terrorism following the events of September 11, 2001, served to reduce the support to the IRA and its factions, many of which were viewed as terrorist organizations.
U.S. President Clinton was involved in the negotiations that led to the Belfast Agreement. Additionally, he made several trips to Ireland during his term in office, during which he talked with leaders of the various factions and attempted to inspire the peace process. He is believed by many to be largely responsible for getting the various factions to sit down and begin talking, which eventually led to the Belfast Agreement.
Currently, the political situation in Northern Ireland is relatively stable. It remains a part of the United Kingdom, but has gained additional political power following the Belfast Agreement. The IRA and its factions have died down, both because of the Belfast Agreement and because of a loss of support in recent years.
1) The major issue in Ireland over the past three years has been between the Unionist and Nationalist parties (Protestants and Catholics) over the rule of Northern Ireland which presently is part of the UK. The Catholics believe that Northern Ireland should separate from the British and join the Republic of Ireland. The Protestants on the other hand, are in favor of remaining a part of the UK.
ReplyDelete2) In 1921, a treaty was passed that ended the Irish Independence War but resulted in the forming of two Irish Nations. One, the Republic of Ireland, was built up of 23 countries and declared itself an independent self-governing nation. A remaining 6 countries joined together and formed Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland agreed to become a part of the UK.
3) The troubles was a period rightly named for its violence and turmoil. It was spurred by the Unionist rule of prime minister Brookeborough. Brookeborough and the Unionists/Protestants rose in population and power whereas the lot of the Catholics sank. This frustrated Catholics and when the governing of new prime minister Terence O'Neill failed to heal the tensions between the two religion/political parties, the Catholics boiled over with anger and frustration. This uproar resulted in much violence.
4) When Britain intervened with the conflict in Northern Ireland, the nation experienced mixed conflicts. Some Nationalists were pleased with the help the British proposed. the Unionists were strongly against the intervention of Britain in Northern Ireland affairs. However the British interference would result in the forming of the IRA and end up only making matters worse.
5)The IRA, Irish Republic Army consisted of mainly Catholics and strove to gain independence from the UK to become part of the republic of Ireland.
6) On Bloody Sunday of 1972, 13 Irish civilians were shot dead by British troops. This caused passionate turmoil in Northern Ireland and volunteers flooded into the IRA in disapproval and horror of the British deed. Hatred for the British planted itself in the hearts of many more Irish civilians. And the conflict became more heated.
7) Peace attempts were made in the 20/21 century between the IRA and the British. The first try at a cease fire treaty was broken by the IRA but a second proved successful. The Belfast agreement in '88 ensured a vote for people in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland.
8) President Bill Clinton made a considerably important effort to help the Northern Ireland conflict. Clinton made three trips, more than any other president, to Ireland. Clinton's trips included peace talks, offered an American Visa to party president Gerry Adams and hired American George mitchell as an economic envoy to the nation.
9) Today, Northern Ireland is powered by Protestant Ian Paisley and IRA leader Martin McGuiness. Catholics have regained political rights and things have been relatively steady. From here things are only expected to improve.
I apologize for the late post, I had some technical difficulties posting and ended up having to rewrite my whole assignment over again more than once. I will never make the same mistakes again!
ReplyDelete1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteThe main issue that has been facing Northern Ireland for the past three decades has been the struggle between the Catholics and Protestants. The majority of the people who reside in Northern Ireland belong to the Catholic sect of Christianity.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
The Government of Ireland Act 1920 was created to separate Ireland into two divisions, Sothern Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Act was officially establish in 1921 and was the beginning of many of the problems between the feuding divisions of Ireland.
3. Describe what came to be known as "the troubles" from 1963-1985.
“The Troubles” was a time in Northern Ireland that created violence that spread throughout Northern Ireland and parts of England. It was a three-decade result of fighting between Catholics and Protestants. This conflict made the surrounding forces such as England and Southern Ireland question Northern Ireland’s position in the United Kingdom.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British army’s main purpose for being in Northern Ireland was to stop any possibilities of Protestant groups rising up and attacking Catholic communities. Keeping the British Army in Northern Ireland created violence that led to events like Bloody Sunday.
5. Who are the I.R.A and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The I.R.A. is better known as the Irish Republican Army. The Irish Republican Army was fighting to remove the British army from Northern Ireland and restore freedom.
Question #6: What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
This was a shooting that the British Army started in Northern Ireland. This shooting killed thirteen innocent civilians, seven being teenagers, who were unarm and had no intention of violence. This act of violence played a large roll in the era that later became known as “The Troubles.”
Question#7: What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
The British Army and Northern Ireland attempted to declare ceasefire in the year 1994; however, this was unsuccessful. This unsuccessful attempt at peace among the two feuding lands led to a second attempt in the beginning of 1996 and was successful.
8. How was the U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
President Bill Clinton became involved with Northern Ireland when visiting in the year 1995, when the IRA discontinued their violence. He was greeted my thousands of people when he arrived in Northern Ireland. His second policy he supported was involving the United States companies bringing economic investments to Northern Ireland.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Currently, Ian Paisley holds the title of president of Northern Ireland. He strongly believes in the Protestant faith. Mc Guinness, a man who believes in the Catholic faith, leads the Irish Republican Army. Having both a Protestant and Catholic allows Northern Ireland to represent itself with less bias views. Compared to the decades prior and the large amounts of violence between these two feuding divisions of Christianity, there has been a large improvement.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteThe major issue in Northern Ireland in the last three decades has been a conflict between the catholic Irish and the Protestants. England owns the northern part of the island called Northern Ireland where there is a larger population of Protestants but still a large population of Catholics. The Irish want their land back and have formed an army called the IRA (Irish Republican Army). This army has been causing havoc by causing bombs to go off in Northern Ireland and even in England, in London.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In 1921 southern Ireland gained independence from Britain. All land was given to the Irish except for what is Northern Ireland today. Northern Ireland was kept due to valuable minerals and a majority population of Protestants in that region. This is where the problem started. Although there were a lot of Protestants there were still many Catholics living there. This lead to discrimination of the Irish Catholics, which eventually lead to the violent “troubles” and the conflict still occurring today.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
“The troubles” was a time of violence that lasted for about 3 decades. It was caused my unequal treatment of the Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland. Violent occurrences began happening in the 1960’s such as in Londonderry in 1968 and in Belfast 1969. Britain wanting to cease this violence sent in troops. This only encouraged the IRA to grow and they began harmful acts of terrorism, which were retaliated by paramilitary in a vicious cycle. This lasted until the 1990’s. An estimate of 3,000 people have died in this Irish-British conflict. Peace was attempted many times during the conflict. Terrance O’Neill who was the leader of the Ulster Unionists became prime minister and was set on creating peace with the Republic of Ireland. Many people did not believe that O’Neill should associate with the Irish government at all. In 1967 the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was set up and protests were being made, not encouraging more peace. Also Margaret Thatcher created the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which was turned down by the Northern Irish Government in 1985. The IRA finally announced cease-fire in 1994.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The presence of the British army in Northern Ireland has seemed to make the struggle worse. When people are being oppressed and make a stand and then get shot down by their own military, it allows more anger and unity to grow within the oppressed people. This is dangerous and allows rebellious groups like the IRA to develop and then strengthen every time the opposition attempts to shut them down. Even though the troops were sent to solve a conflict, they really only made the conflict worse.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The I.R.A, or the Irish Republican army, is an organization fighting for the Northern Ireland to be taken from the British and be reunited with the rest of the Republic of Ireland. The organization consists of both Catholics in Northern and Southern Ireland fighting for Unity. The IRA used violent tactics to get their point across leading to many bombings and other terrorist attacks. An IRA bomb went off in a tube station whilst my mother was next door when we lived in London. The violence caused nervousness in both nations involved.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
ReplyDeleteBloody Sunday occurred in 1972 in Derry, Northern Ireland. Catholics were protesting for their civil rights and British troops were sent in to settle the matter. The British Killed 27 people in the violent struggle and because of all the blood shed, that day became known as bloody Sunday. This incident caused the IRA to grow and did not settle the matter and the issue grew larger and larger with innocent names of gravestones.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
The IRA ceasefire in 1994 was the beginning of the peace process. This allowed Sinn Fein, a political party associated with the IRA, to participate in peace talks with British Officials. This lead to the beginning of a new Northern Irish government to be formed with representatives from Ireland, Britain and Northern Ireland in 1995. Finally the Good Friday agreement was signed on April 10th 1998 and it looked as if peace was reached at last. Soon the IRA came again and in 2000 the British resumed full government under the orders of Sinn Fein. A stalemate occurred after this until 2007 when the two governments finally decided to meet about Northern Ireland.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
Bill Clinton was involved in the Irish-British conflict by committing to the peace process. He was friendly with the leader of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, inviting him to the Whitehouse in 1995. He was largely involved with both sides leading up to Good Friday. He visited Ireland several times to promote peace.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Currently the Northern Ireland Assembly is presiding over the territory with Rev Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness as First Minister and Deputy Minister. Both represent very different parties making representation in the government fair for both peoples currently living Northern Ireland.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last 3 decades?
ReplyDeleteThe Catholics of Northern Ireland are being discriminated by the Protestants of Northern Ireland. The IRA (Irish Republican Army) is a group of Catholics that are against the Protestants in northern. The IRA has been causing many problems in Northern Ireland by bombing both the British and Protestants. The conflict between the Protestants, Catholics and the British has caused many incidents involving deaths of many people.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
A treaty was signed that created the Republic of Ireland from 23 southern counties and 6 counties from Ulster. The Ulster unionist party began rule of Northern Ireland.
3. Describe what came to be known as “the troubles” from 1963-1985.
Violence came to be because of the Catholic-Protestant imbalance and many riots broke out in the late 1960’s. When the British came to fix the problems everything became worse. Different groups of Catholics (Mainly the Ira) and Protestants began to bomb different areas.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British military arrived to help police the riots and bring back order. But instead the British military began to kill civilians and made the conflict even worse. They basically lead people to enlist in the Ira.
5. Who are the I.R.A. and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
The IRA is the Irish Republican Army, they were created to help the catholic minority in northern Ireland. They tried to kick the British out of Ireland using terrorism and other forms of disruption. They don’t agree with the British remaining in Northern Ireland.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected
the struggle.
At 3pm 15,000 civilians began a march towards Guildhall Square from Creggan. The British viewed this as illegal and tried to stop the people with rubber bullets and other forms of crowd control. This lead to the British opening fire and killing 13 people, this day fueled the rage of the Catholics and began even more problems for the next few years.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
In 1994 a cease fire was agreed on, but soon it was broken by the NRA. Another cease fire was announced in 1997. Later on the an agreement was signed stating that Great Britain owned Northern Ireland as long as the majority of Northern Ireland citizens agree to this. The agreement basically said that there was to be equal power among the Catholics and Protestants of Northern Ireland.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
Clinton visited Northern Ireland at least 3 times to help negotiate peace during his presidency. He spoke at a rally which helped the leaders propose the Belfast agreement of 1998. Clinton visited first in 1995 second in 1998 and third in 2000.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
Both Protestant and Catholics basically have equal power in Ireland. Currently a Protestant is first minister but a Catholic is Deputy first minister. The country is led by a Consociational Democracy allowing the different groups of people to have there say in the government.
1. What has been the major issue in Northern Ireland during the last three decades?
ReplyDeleteThe main issue troubling Northern Ireland has been the conflict between the Catholic and the Protestant Irish. Northern Ireland is not a part of the Republic of Ireland, but a smaller territory claimed by the UK. Protestants, or Unionists are in favor of remaining part of the UK and are backed by the British Army, while the Catholics, or Nationalists, want to separate and become part of Ireland and have the IRA. The Catholics feel discriminated against, and this only adds more fuel to the fire.
2. Describe what happened to Ireland in 1921.
In 1921, a treaty was finalized to end the Irish Independence war. It divvied up the island of Ireland: the south became a country in its own right, the Republic of Ireland, and the north became Northern Ireland, which is under the British rule of the UK. This division of the country is the main flash point for the problems in Northern Ireland.
3. Describe what came to be known as "the troubles" from 1963-1985.
“The troubles” were a bloody three decades of brutal fighting between the Protestants and Catholics. Catholics, feeling discriminated against, began to be violent in protest. This violence prompted the British Army to enter Northern Ireland. This, in return, only prompted more violence, as the Catholics and the IRA in particular were incensed by the troop presence and responded with violence. Thought the new prime minister Terence O'Neill tried along others to create peace, he ultimately failed.
4. How has the British army and its presence in Northern Ireland influenced the struggle?
The British Army’s presence in Northern Ireland has caused as much violence as it has prevented. Their presence no doubt lessened the fear in some people’s minds about the conflict, but it also prompted evil sentiments from the Catholics. The Catholics and IRA were moved to greater heights of violence because of the presence of the British soldiers and their interference in matters of Northern Ireland.
5. Who are the IRA and what was their main grievance in Northern Ireland? In other words, what were they fighting for?
ReplyDeleteThe IRA, or the Irish Republican Army, is fighting for the liberation of Northern Ireland from the UK’s control. The IRA is mostly Catholic and is comprised of people from both Northern and Southern Ireland who want Northern Ireland to join with the Republic of Ireland.
6. What happened on Bloody Sunday in 1972? Describe how this incident affected the struggle.
The Bloody Sunday of 1972 began with a protest for civil rights by the Catholics. When the British Army went in it became, well, bloody. The British Army killed thirteen or fourteen civilians. Hatred for the British and the UK’s control over Northern Ireland surged through the country and people flocked to the IRA.
7. What steps were taken in the later part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century to address the problem in Northern Ireland? Were they successful?
The first really promising step towards peace was the 1994 cease-fire between the IRA and the British Army. However, peace did not last long as the cease-fire was broken. Fortunately, a second and final cease-fire was called for in 1996 and still holds today.
8. How was U.S. President Bill Clinton involved?
Bill Clinton visited Northern Ireland three times in an attempt to bring stability to the region. He offered Gerry Adams a US Visa. He supported the opening of dialogue lines between Irish Catholics and Protestants and was an active part of peace talks throughout his presidency.
9. What is the current political situation in Northern Ireland? Is this fair to both sides?
The current political situation in Northern Ireland is fairly stable, compared with the past. The First Minister, Ian Paisley, is vehemently protestant. However, Martin McGuiness the Deputy Minister is the Catholic head of the IRA, so the balance of power is at this point fairly balanced. Although Northern Ireland is still a part of the UK, the Catholics are enjoying greater equality and representation than they have had in the past.
Thank you to all students who responded so carefully to each question on this assignment.
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