the troubles

•The right to vote was a problem to the Catholics prior to 1968 •Each household was given to 2 votes while companies had more votes depending on their sizes •Many companies owned by Protestants- so they ended up with more votes • many voting districts were often drawn up to include large proportion of Protestants •Catholics were unhappy
Northern Ireland and „the Troubles‟
A history
• • • • • • Elizabeth I and James I County of Ulster The Plantation of Ulster 1641 uprising against the planters 1650‟s Oliver Cromwell William of Orange and King James II
• Education system in N Ireland deepened the rift between the Catholics and the Protestants
• Schools in N Ireland can be divided into 3 categories:
* The Protestant Schools * The Catholic Schools * Mixed Schools
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Since 1968, changes have been made • due to the changes voting rights ceased to be a problem in Northern Ireland • everyone is entitled to one vote • must be a British subject • must be above 18 years old • has to be born in Northern Ireland or • must have lived in the United Kingdom for 7 years • voting districts have also been redrawn to ensure fairness
• /ni/Diary2.html • /ni/
The Orange Order
• Almost every minister in the Northern Ireland government from 1921 until the imposition of Direct Rule in 1972 was an Orangeman.
In Mixed Schools
• Subjects cater to both the Catholics and Protestants • Schools run by private individuals • Unpopular
Results of the Educational System: • Generations of children grow to be distrustful of each other • Hostility between them increases.
The Major Players
• • • • • British Security Forces The IRA The Orange Order The Ulster Volunteer Army the Royal Ulster Constabulary
British Security Forces
What about the Catholics?
• Catholics want N Ireland reunited with the Republic of Ireland • Remember persecution suffered by the Catholics during England’s conquest of Ireland • Distrust the Protestants eg. still celebrate the Battle of Boyne as a mark of Protestant dominance
The Battle of Boyne
• 12 July 1690
• Penal Laws • Protestant Ascendancy • The Orange Order
– 1795 "Battle of the Diamond"
• 1920‟s-1960‟s
Key Dates in Northern Ireland History
In 1993 • 1 million Protestants, mostly of Scottish and English origin • 600 000 Catholics, mostly descendents of local Irish inhabitants of the island
• The provision of housing by city council- caused great concern to the Irish • The Councils made up of largely of Protestants • Catholics were delayed in getting their houses • They became frustrated as the shortage of houses meant they have to wait for many years to own a house • Catholics felt the provision of housing was unfair to them
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The Troubles
• refers to approximately three decades of violence between elements of Northern Ireland's nationalist community (principally Roman Catholic) and unionist community (principally Protestant). • Many people today have had their political, social, and communal attitudes and perspectives shaped by the Troubles.
• Competition for jobs • Catholics felt there is no equal opportunity for them in getting the jobs • Number of Catholics engineers and civil servants was not proportionate to their numbers in the country • Fewer Catholics in senior positions in the public or Conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics
Divided Loyalties The Education System Employment Housing Voting Rights
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The Protestant and the Catholics are intolerant of one another. Give their allegiance to different countries. Protestants want to continue to be part of United Kingdom Fear union with Republic of Ireland Fear Catholics would not be tolerant of the Protestant beliefs
• • • 1170- Settlers from Britain arrive in Ireland 1608 -Plantation of Ulster began English and Scottish settlers moved into the north 1641- The Catholic-Gaelic rising in response to the Plantation and the confiscation of land by Protestant settlers from England and Scotland 1690- The Battle of the Boyne and the victory of Protestant William III over Catholic James II - this victory is still celebrated in many parades in Northern Ireland • • 1801- Act of Union which abolished the Irish Parliament and bound Ireland and Britain together as parts of the United Kingdom 1912 -Ulster Solemn League and Covenant signed by over 400,000 Protestants who wanted to remain in the Union 1916- The Easter Rising in Dublin against British rule
paramilitary groups
The IRA
• The Provisional IRA
– Split with the IRA in 1969
• The creation of the Provisional Irish Republic Army (PIRA –later shortened to IRA) was organized in response to British engagement into the civil rights movement. The IRA gained members during the 1970’s and became more violent in their tactics.
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In the Protestant Schools
• Students are taught British History, play British sport and are loyal to Britain
In the Catholic Schools
• Students learn Irish History, play Irish sports and taught Irish language and culture. • See Britain as a foreign country