Northern Northern Ireland: A Ireland: A

Troubled IslandTroubled Island

I. BackgroundI. Background

1212thth Cent.: England (Protestant) Cent.: England (Protestant) conquered Ireland (Catholic) conquered Ireland (Catholic)

1717thth Cent.: British Protestant pop. Cent.: British Protestant pop. increased w/Scottish & English settlers increased w/Scottish & English settlers Irish Catholic farmers were forced from Irish Catholic farmers were forced from

their landtheir land Given less fertile land Given less fertile land NORTHERN IRELAND = BRITISH NORTHERN IRELAND = BRITISH MAJORITY (PROTESTANT)MAJORITY (PROTESTANT)

1800: Ireland = United Kingdom1800: Ireland = United Kingdom Conflict continued Conflict continued

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

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

II. Divided Loyalties of II. Divided Loyalties of Today Today

What issues were Irish Catholics What issues were Irish Catholics fighting for? fighting for? Education equality:Education equality: Employment equality:Employment equality: Housing equality:Housing equality: Voting opportunities:Voting opportunities:

Why do British Protestants refuse to Why do British Protestants refuse to join the Republic of Ireland? join the Republic of Ireland?

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

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

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

Sinn Fein (Irish Catholic Political Party) Sinn Fein (Irish Catholic Political Party) Irish Republican Army (IRA)Irish Republican Army (IRA) Goal: to end Brit. rule in N. Ireland & reunify Goal: to end Brit. rule in N. Ireland & reunify

IrelandIreland

Bloody Sunday:Bloody Sunday: It began when a group of protestors were It began when a group of protestors were

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

Bloody FridayBloody Friday

Belfast: I.R.A. detonated 22 bombsBelfast: I.R.A. detonated 22 bombs 9 killed, 130 injured9 killed, 130 injured

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

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

--helped negotiate Good Friday Peace --helped negotiate Good Friday Peace Agreement Agreement

IV. Violence Turns to IV. Violence Turns to PeacePeace

1990s…1990s…

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

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

moderate Prots. & Caths. shared power (moderate Prots. & Caths. shared power (N. Ireland N. Ireland AssemblyAssembly))

BUT…snags remainedBUT…snags remained Prots. wanted full disarmament of IRAProts. wanted full disarmament of IRA Caths. wanted a police force that was not mainly Caths. wanted a police force that was not mainly

Prot. Prot.

Modern day…Modern day…

2003: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 2003: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) (Brit. Prots.) (Brit. Prots.)

2006: IRA disarmed & renounced terrorism2006: IRA disarmed & renounced terrorism 2007: Ian Paisley (DUP) & Martin 2007: Ian Paisley (DUP) & Martin

McGuiness (Sinn Fein) shared power McGuiness (Sinn Fein) shared power (Northern Ireland Assembly)(Northern Ireland Assembly) 2008: Peter Robinson = current First Minister2008: Peter Robinson = current First Minister

2008: 20% of N. Ireland Police Service = 2008: 20% of N. Ireland Police Service = Irish Caths. Irish Caths.