Northern Ireland

Map Of Ireland And Northern Ireland


Beautiful Castle in Ireland


Causes-
Divided Loyalties

The Protestant Regard themselves as British and want to remain part of UK.

They celebrated the battle of Boyne where the protestant king of England defeated the catholic ex king of England

The Catholics want to be part of the Republic of Ireland.

They remember the long struggle for home rule by the Irish against the British.

This meant that the two communities were proud of their own achievement and were not willing to compromise with the other party.

This brought about distrust and misunderstanding leading to conflict.

Education System

Protestant children attended government school while Catholics children attended private school.

Protestant children are taught British history and played British sports like hockey and rugby.

They are loyal to the British.

Catholic children are taught Irish history and played Irish sports like hurling.

They are loyal to Ireland.

There are privately run mixed schools but these are not popular.

As they study in different schools, children from these two communities do not get to meet each other.

This meant that they grew up with distrust and hatred for one another.

This make them hostile with one another, leading to conflict.

Employment

The Catholics ,although are academically qualified, were not able to get a job as easily as the Protestants.

There were fewer Catholics in the senior position in the public sectors.

The number of civil servant were not proportionate to the number in the country.

Catholics were rejected due to religion

Catholics felt that they were discriminated against.

This made them believe that the government is biased and only care for the Protestant.

Thus went against the government, leading to conflict.

Housing

City councils providing houses to the people consist largely of protestant.

Priority was given to the Protestant in the provision of houses.

In 1968, 71% of the house in Dungannon were given to the Protestant although 53% of the people were Catholics.

The Catholics were frustrated as they had to wait for a longer time to get their house

They thought that the government was biased and hated the government leading to conflict.

Voting

Each household was entitled 2 votes

Companies were entitled to more votes depending on their size.

Many big company was owned by the rich Protestant.

End up having more votes than the Catholics.

Since more Protestant get to vote, the Catholics were worried that more protestant would come to power.

The Catholics thought that the government was biased, leading to conflict.

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Roles-
Catholic People in Northern Ireland

Organized by the Civil Rights Movement in mid 1960s and early 1970s.

To demand for equal rights and to protect against unfair treatment of the Catholics.

Demands for basic rights like housing, jobs,education and voting.

1972 civil rights march was faced with violent shooting by the British Army.

Faced violent response from the Protestant and the police.

IRA[Irish Republican Army]

Illegal Organization formed largely by Northern Irish Catholic.

Aim to use violence to drive the British Army out of Northern Ireland.

Responsible for deaths of 2/3 of the more than 3500 people killed through violence from 1969 to 1993

Protestant People in Northern Ireland.

Unhappy with the Civil Rights Movement by the Catholics

Responded to the movement violently.

Petrol-bombed Catholics' homes in the middle of the night, forcing Catholics to flee

Local Police did not do anything to stop the acts of Protestant

Police in Northern Ireland - Mainly Protestant.

Local Police DID NOTHING to stop the Protestants' Actions.

British Army - mainly protestant

Aug 1969: British Army units were send to Northern Ireland to help keep order

They were initially seen as protectors by the Catholics

Search Catholics' home and arrested suspects

Did not take action against Protestants

The Catholics lost faith in the British Army

1972: shot at the peaceful civil right march.

killed 13 civilians and wounded many more.

know as bloody Sunday

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Consequences-
Innocent people affected

Many of the Catholics and Protestants were not directly involved in the conflict

They want to live their life as per normal.

However, with the conflict most of the people were affected were innocent people

People killed from 1969 to 1977 due to violence were not directly involved in the violence

People grew with prejudice

The Protestant and Catholics received a different education, each praising their own and condemning the deeds of the other

The violence in the country also mean that the two groups of people believe that

their own people were right

and the other party was responsible for the conflict in Northern Ireland

This led to growth of hatred and prejudice between the two group of people

With increased hostility, violence continued to rise

Economic Slow down

Prior to the conflict, many overseas companies invested in Northern Ireland

Tourists came to the country as the country was attractive and peaceful

Both foreign investment and tourism decline as people were

afraid for their safety and did not want to come to Northern Ireland

This reduce the revenue for Northern Ireland, leading to economic slowdown.