History of ConflictHistory of ConflictAn introduction to the situation in An introduction to the situation in

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland__________________________________________________________________________

Created by Keith O’ConnellCreated by Keith O’Connell

Penn High SchoolPenn High School

20042004

Background DataBackground Data The conflict in The conflict in

Northern Ireland is Northern Ireland is between two groups; between two groups; Protestants and Protestants and Catholics. Catholics. The The conflict is not conflict is not necessarily about necessarily about religionreligion, but it does , but it does have some have some significance in the significance in the history of the history of the conflict.conflict.

The current population The current population of Northern Ireland of Northern Ireland is 1.5 million. 55% of is 1.5 million. 55% of the population is the population is Protestant, 45% Protestant, 45% Catholic.Catholic.

Today, the two groups Today, the two groups place their emphasis place their emphasis on different on different elements of the elements of the problem.problem.

Protestant BeliefsProtestant Beliefs

Believe they have Believe they have a constitutional a constitutional right to the land right to the land

Want to preserve Want to preserve the Union with the Union with BritainBritain

They are resisting They are resisting the perceived the perceived threat of a United threat of a United IrelandIreland

Catholic BeliefsCatholic Beliefs

For some, Northern For some, Northern Ireland remains a Ireland remains a National struggle for National struggle for self-determinationself-determination

Others viewed the Others viewed the conflict as a civil conflict as a civil rights struggle against rights struggle against unfair practices by the unfair practices by the Unionist government Unionist government between 1920-1970between 1920-1970

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

The proximity of The proximity of Britain and Ireland Britain and Ireland has led to a long has led to a long history of history of interaction and interaction and linkage – largely linkage – largely of British of British domination and domination and persecution of persecution of Irish CatholicsIrish Catholics

Key Dates in Northern Ireland HistoryKey Dates in Northern Ireland History

1170- Settlers from Britain 1170- Settlers from Britain arrive in Ireland arrive in Ireland

1608 -Plantation of Ulster 1608 -Plantation of Ulster began English and Scottish began English and Scottish settlers moved into the northsettlers moved into the north

1641- The Catholic-Gaelic 1641- The Catholic-Gaelic rising in response to the rising in response to the Plantation and the Plantation and the confiscation of land by confiscation of land by Protestant settlers from Protestant settlers from England and ScotlandEngland and Scotland

1690- The Battle of the 1690- The Battle of the Boyne and the victory of Boyne and the victory of Protestant William III over Protestant William III over Catholic James II - this Catholic James II - this victory is still celebrated in victory is still celebrated in many parades in Northern many parades in Northern Ireland Ireland

1801- Act of Union which 1801- Act of Union which abolished the Irish abolished the Irish Parliament and bound Parliament and bound Ireland and Britain Ireland and Britain together as parts of the together as parts of the United Kingdom United Kingdom

1912 -Ulster Solemn 1912 -Ulster Solemn League and Covenant League and Covenant signed by over 400,000 signed by over 400,000 Protestants who wanted to Protestants who wanted to remain in the Union remain in the Union

1916- The Easter Rising in 1916- The Easter Rising in Dublin against British rule Dublin against British rule

Creation of Irish Free State / Creation of Irish Free State / Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

In 1921, the island of In 1921, the island of Ireland was Ireland was partitioned by the partitioned by the British government. British government. The 26 southern The 26 southern counties gaining counties gaining independence from independence from Britain, while the 6 Britain, while the 6 northeastern countries northeastern countries remained part of the remained part of the United KingdomUnited Kingdom

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland At the time, the 6 northeastern At the time, the 6 northeastern

counties had a built-in Protestant counties had a built-in Protestant majority (65/35)majority (65/35)

Ethnic bias in the distribution of Ethnic bias in the distribution of housing and welfare services lead to housing and welfare services lead to more turmoil between the two sidesmore turmoil between the two sides

Changing demographics: Currently it Changing demographics: Currently it is 55% Protestant to 45% Catholicis 55% Protestant to 45% Catholic

Beginnings of “The Troubles”Beginnings of “The Troubles”______________________________________________________

Started in the 1960’s - Civil Rights Started in the 1960’s - Civil Rights CampaigngCampaigng• Catholics – inspired by the worldwide Catholics – inspired by the worldwide

civil rights movement - their situation civil rights movement - their situation was somewhat analogous to that of was somewhat analogous to that of African-Americans in the USA African-Americans in the USA

• Protestants – saw this as a threat to Protestants – saw this as a threat to Northern Ireland’s existence –responded Northern Ireland’s existence –responded hostile to demonstrationshostile to demonstrations

““The Troubles”The Troubles” 1969 – London 1969 – London

deployed the British deployed the British Army to restore order. Army to restore order.

To most Catholics, To most Catholics, they were seen as they were seen as protectors of the protectors of the Northern Ireland state Northern Ireland state and the repressive and the repressive majority population. majority population. (others – British (others – British troops on Irish soil)troops on Irish soil)

Creation of Paramilitary GroupsCreation of Paramilitary Groups The creation of the The creation of the

Provisional Irish Provisional Irish Republic Army (PIRA –Republic Army (PIRA –later shortened to IRA) later shortened to IRA) was organized in was organized in response to British response to British engagement into the engagement into the civil rights movement. civil rights movement. The IRA gained The IRA gained members during the members during the 1970’s and became 1970’s and became more violent in their more violent in their tactics.tactics.

Creation of Paramilitary GroupsCreation of Paramilitary Groups

Ulster Volunteer Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)Force (UVF)

-Loyalist -Loyalist Paramilitary Group. Paramilitary Group. Formed primarily in Formed primarily in response to IRA, response to IRA, also used violence also used violence to help its cause. to help its cause.

Formation of the Peace ProcessFormation of the Peace Process As the two sides fought against each As the two sides fought against each

other for most of the 1970’s and other for most of the 1970’s and early 1980’s, it became evident that early 1980’s, it became evident that progress was never going to be progress was never going to be made using force. Instead, the IRA made using force. Instead, the IRA and UVF began aligning with political and UVF began aligning with political parties in Northern Ireland as a way parties in Northern Ireland as a way to fight for their goals. However, to fight for their goals. However, spoeratic “terrorist” actions spoeratic “terrorist” actions continued to be executed by both continued to be executed by both sides.sides.

Sinn Fein- Republic IrelandSinn Fein- Republic Ireland

Sinn Fein – The political wing of Republicanism and the IRA. Leader-Gerry Adams

Progressive Unionist Party and Progressive Unionist Party and Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist Party

Progressive Unionist-Was involved in discussions leading tonegotiations between the parties.

Democratic Unionist- Continues to remain loyal to Britain

Continuing towards Peace-Continuing towards Peace-“Frameworks for the future”“Frameworks for the future”

Starting in the early 1990’s, steps Starting in the early 1990’s, steps were being taken by both sides to were being taken by both sides to show their willingness to live in show their willingness to live in peace. peace. • The ceasefire of 1994 by the IRA was The ceasefire of 1994 by the IRA was

seen as a positive sign that would seen as a positive sign that would eventually bring both sides to diplomatic eventually bring both sides to diplomatic relations for the first time in several relations for the first time in several decades.decades.

Good Friday Agreement - April 1998Good Friday Agreement - April 1998The agreement reached 5 main The agreement reached 5 main

points:points:1.1. Future constitutional status Future constitutional status

was in the hands of its was in the hands of its citizenscitizens

2.2. If the people wanted to If the people wanted to unite, they could by voting unite, they could by voting

3.3. Current constitutional Current constitutional position remains within the position remains within the UKUK

4.4. Citizens could be Irish, Citizens could be Irish, British, and bothBritish, and both

5.5. Republic of Ireland would Republic of Ireland would drop territorial claim drop territorial claim

Future of Northern Ireland?Future of Northern Ireland?

With continued With continued peaceful agreements, peaceful agreements, the hope of those in the hope of those in Northern Ireland is to Northern Ireland is to move forward; to move forward; to begin a new chapter begin a new chapter in what was been a in what was been a struggle to co-exist for struggle to co-exist for the past several the past several decades; and to begin decades; and to begin the healing process.the healing process.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN)Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/index.htmlhttp://cain.ulst.ac.uk/index.html

Sinn FeinSinn Fein

http://sinnfein.org/http://sinnfein.org/

Ulster Volunteer ForceUlster Volunteer Force

http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/uvf.htmhttp://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/uvf.htm

Special thanks to the West European Special thanks to the West European Studies National Resource Center for Studies National Resource Center for the opportunity to research this topic the opportunity to research this topic in depth.in depth.