Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Northern Ireland Assignment

Your task is to research and then write a report on the tensions between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the later part of the 20th century. Although the situation between the two groups has improved in the last 10 years, be sure to include why it has improved. Your report should, at a minimum, answer the following questions: 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years? 2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland? 3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a precence there, and has that precence make the situation better or worse? 4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland. Although you are free to do your own research this might be a good place to start: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/recent/troubles/the_troubles_article_01.shtml Your response needs to be a minimum of 300 words, and should be posted no later than Friday, September 21.

42 comments:

  1. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    A: During WW2, the Republic of Ireland's economy increased rapidly while Britain's declined. However, this quickly changed as the war industry died down. In 1963, Terrance O'Neill replaced the former prime minister of Ireland because the people believed the previous prime minister was responsible for the economic decline. Terrance sought out a new and better economy, but thought that he needed Northern Ireland in order to do so. He met with the Northern Ireland prime minister and started to discuss plans of unifying the country. This was favored by the Catholics in Northern Ireland, but set fear in protestant minds. Protestants did not want to become minorities and wanted Britain to keep control. The Protestants formed the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) which became a “loyalist” terrorist group whom performed many destructive acts against the Protestants. O’Neill tried to make peace, but the Protestants of Northern Ireland became impatient and formed their own terrorist groups (Nicra and IRA). The formation of these terrorist groups led to most of the bloodshed and destruction in Northern Ireland in the past sixty years.
    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    A: The IRA (Ireland Republic Army) was not an actual uniformed army, and like the UVF, it was mainly a terror inducing group that favored liberty from the British. This group fought smuggled weapons and war supplies across the Northern Ireland border into the Catholic’s hands so they could fight against the Protestants. This led to major bloodshed and anarchy throughout the “Troubles”
    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?
    A: The British military was deployed in Northern Ireland because they wanted to start a peace campaign. This mission was called, “Operation Banner”. The goal of this campaign was to bring peace and order to Northern Ireland and its government. The British troops were kept a presence in Northern Ireland in order to help stop the IRA. This presence did not defeat/completely stop the IRA, but the presence did not allow the IRA to win through violence.

    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland.
    A: On January 30, 1972, 14 Catholics were shot dead during a public protest in Londonburry, Northern Ireland. Although some people in the protest threw bottles, rocks, and other objects at nearby policemen, the police took open fire on the crowd until the streets were cleared of standing people. This angered the Catholics because the police did not follow riot instructions. Catholic terror inducing groups started to fight back and cause massive damage to protestant or “loyalist” communities.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1-The Protestants, through the British were in power. The Catholics wanted to make Northern Ireland into a part of the republic because they would be treated better that way.
    2-A Northern Irish Catholic Terrorist Organization
    3-They added their military to NI police. This aggravated the IRA.
    4- British police killed Catholic activists, aggravating the IRA more.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Reece, Your responses show a good understanding of the issues in Northern Ireland. Although the British army did indeed fail to defeat the IRA, I was also hoping that you would mention how its presence was recieved by the "common man" in the streets of Belfast.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Andrew, All responses are accurate, but I was hoping for greater detail which would show just how much you know about the issues in NI

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1. 1. The fight between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland has stemmed from territorial disputes between the supporters of the Republic of Ireland and the supporters of the United Kingdom. In 1922, the Republic of Ireland officially became separate from the United Kingdom, forming its own government. The Republic consists mostly of Catholics, fuelled by the fact that their sect of Christianity was a minority. To this day, Northern Ireland, part of the island of Ireland, remains part of the United Kingdom. The citizens of Northern Ireland are protestant, uniform with the majority religion of England and the rest of the UK. These citizens identify themselves as members of the British Commonwealth more than with the Republic of Ireland due to the commonality in religion. The Protestants in Northern Ireland have mistreated the Catholics living in Northern Ireland by statutory discrimination and cultural discrimination. Although in the 19th century, these laws were removed, hoping to rid of the oppression. Over time, the Catholics and Protestants have developed cultural hatred towards one another, the Catholics feeling that the English (Protestants) had forced tradition and ways down their throats. Starting about 60 years ago due to Prime Minister Terrance believing in an improvement of the Republic of Ireland’s economy with the unification, the Catholics part of both the British Commonwealth on the Ireland island and the Republic of Ireland have had uprisings to unite all of Ireland. However, the Protestants, feeling that they are more a part of England, have resisted and been adamant about remaining in the UK. This has started what some people call to be the Irish Civil War, a decades of fighting.

    2. 2. The Irish Republican Army originated during the time that the Republic of Ireland sought to become a sovereign nation. To separate, they created guerilla attacks against the British and ultimately succeeded. The IRA has continued on to fight for the unification of the Irish state. They are an underground army consisting of several hundred members that use bombings and guerilla warfare to further their cause. It is thought that the IRA has received a considerable amount of weapons and supplies from Libya as well as independent supporters within the United States. The IRA carries most of their attacks out in Northern Ireland through members across the border and has claimed responsibility for many major bombings within Northern Ireland, killing numerous Northern Ireland civilians. Among their most significant attacks are the 1996 Manchester Bombing (212 injuries), Omagh Bombing (29 dead, 300 injured), and numerous car bombings. These attacks leave the people of Northern Ireland in fear and uncertainty due to their surprise factor. Children are taught from an early age about weaponry and bombs, which may not leave a good effect.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 3. 3. Due to the uncontrollable violence by the IRA and other organizations in support of the unification of Ireland, the British Army was sent to Northern Ireland as a part of Operation Banner from 1969 to 2007. The British Army’s tasks are limited to seeking and preventing bombs and other war weapons from going off, supporting police in patrol and lookout and deterring violence by doing so, providing supplies that the police force would otherwise not have, and providing support around the borders and places where weapons are commonly smuggled. The peak number of soldiers deployed to Northern Ireland was 21,000, increasing or decreasing when circumstances and attacks called for it. After the intense riots of the late 1990’s, the total of soldiers in Northern Ireland greatly increased. At first, the Catholics in Northern Ireland were neutral about the occupation of the British Military, but after the events of Bloody Sunday, their opinions changed drastically. The British Military has been a presence in Northern Ireland to create a threat to the IRA, so that the group cannot simply attack as it pleases. The organized force makes it so that there is a greater threat, which ideally would lessen the amount of attacks. In addition, the presence makes catching attacks and smugglers much easier because of greater resources. The presence’s effect changed after Bloody Sunday when the British Army abused their weapons, making the then neutral Catholics turn against the British Army. After that point in time, the presence has provoked the IRA, but also made it harder for them to act violently.

    4. 4. Bloody Sunday is an event that took place on January 30, 1972 in Derry, Northern Ireland, when the British Army opened fire on a peaceful protest. The number of protestors on that day has been greatly disputed by historians, some claiming that there were 30,000, others that there were only 3-5,000. Nevertheless, the events of the day remain solid. The march was planned to continue one way, but due to barricades, it was rerouted to Free Derry Corner. Next, a group of teenagers decided to branch off, ignoring barricades, and marching on the Guidehill and throwing stones at the soldiers. From here, water cannon, tear gas, and rubber bullets were used to attempt to disperse the protestors. Two soldiers claimed to see that two protestors were armed, opening fire. The soldiers also had heard reports of an IRA sniper patrolling the area, so they fired into the crowd causing 13 immediate deaths and 14 injured peoples (including those who later died from their injuries). These events lead the once neutral Catholics in Northern Ireland to lean towards the positions of those wanting to unite Ireland. Due to such unnecessary violence, the IRA and its cause gained more support both by those living in Ireland and by popular culture. The event essentially escalated the tensions in Ireland and caused the IRA to fight even harder for their success.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?
    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland

    Protestants and Catholics move in together when English and Scottish settlers start coming to the “Plantation of Ulster” in the 16th century. Catholic Irish were pushed to the borders of their land, and Protestants were reigning supreme. It was a period of extreme tension between the two groups. In 1921, Ireland split into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with the majority of Protestants living in Northern Ireland, and the Catholics living in the Republic. Northern Ireland would be granted substantial autonomy under British law. The Protestants were insecure, the Catholics were alienated, economic performance was poor, but most couldn’t foresee “The Troubles”.

    The Protestants would like to remain connected to their brethren in Britain, seeing a united Ireland as a potential threat to that relationship. The Catholics see the division of Ireland as a land invasion from the British and would like Ireland to become a whole. Despite evidence that Catholics are often more oppressed and needy than Protestants, the majority in either group feel that government gives priority to the other group.

    IRA stands for the Irish Republican Army. It is a paramilitary group whose main goal is to kick the British out of Northern Ireland and unite the island. The IRA sees itself as a continuation of the IRA that fought in the Irish War of Independence. In the 1960s, civil rights activists fought for catholic rights in Northern Ireland. The Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland’s police force, reacted violently, attacking the civil rights groups. The IRA didn’t know how to manage the escalating violence and split into the Official and Provisional IRA.

    The Official IRA focused on using peaceful methods to create a united Ireland, while the PIRA desired to use violence to achieve their goals. Interest in the Official IRA dwindled, and support for the PIRA peaked after Bloody Sunday. The IRA was also a major figure during the “Troubles”, a period of violence from the 1960s-1997.

    The PIRA is famous for using car bombs, letter bombs, and torture to bring interest to their cause. The Bloody Friday bombing spree, the Canary Wharf bombing, and the Lord Mountbatten assassination are just a few of the IRA’s shows of violence.

    The IRA’s actions have created an environment of tension and fear for the Irish people. Children are taught to recognize signs of bombs and terrorist attacks from a young age. Life in Ireland is full of conflict and angst.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The IRA agreed to a cease fire in 1997, and disbanded itself in 2005.

      Delete
    2. This post only answers questions 1 and 2.

      Delete
  8. 3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?
    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland?

    The British military was initially deployed in Northern Ireland after the civil rights movement of 1969 was met with brutal violence. They were intended to protect the Catholics and prevent the Protestants and Catholics from attacking each other. The military only expected to stay a few weeks in Northern Ireland, but ended up staying for almost 40 years.

    The British presence has, just like the IRA, caused fear and apprehension to ripple throughout Northern Ireland. The military would sometimes push people against a wall and search the civilians. Many people were afraid to go out at night, fearing an attack from military personnel.

    Many people in Northern Ireland are glad that the military is gone and realize that a united Ireland can be achieved through politics. None of the Irish wish to return to the violence of the past, and are grateful that the world has moved on.

    On Sunday, January 30, 1972, the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association organized a peaceful and illegal protest. They protested against the internment of suspected IRA members without trial. British troops used rubber bullets and water cannons in an attempt to disperse and stop the protest. The protest continued, and the troops opened fire on the crowd, killing 13 and injuring 17.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 1.Most Irish Catholics desired complete independence from Britain, but Irish Protestants feared living in a country ruled by a Catholic majority. There were also many riots. British troops were brought in to restore order, but the conflict intensified as the IRA and Protestant paramilitary groups carried out bombings and other acts of terrorism. In my opinion this is ridiculous because Catholicism and Protestantism are so alike. It is sad to see that there was this much violence involved between the two groups and it resulted in so man deaths.


    2. IRA stands for Irish Republican Army. The IRA was an Irish republican revolutionary military organization. The IRA were the Catholics. This affects residents in Northern Ireland very much. The IRA was a pretty violent group. The IRA would come in and detonate bombs, do killings, and many more. As you can see, this was a problem for the residents of Northern Ireland. There was constant death, and there was just so much crime for the residents to have a happy life.


    3. The British army is the land warfare branch of the British Armed Forces in the UK. The British military was in Northern Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary. From my understanding, the British army would come into Northern Ireland to "help" clean the streets. I know if there were riots, instead of giving warnings, they would use machine guns to spray at rioters or civilians. In my opinion this is not fair to the people that have done nothing wrong, and it seems way to harsh. There should at least be warnings given and error should not result in immediate death. I believe their presence has made everything worse. I say this because they are just there for killing if you think about it. They are taking away innocent lives and they are doing nothing else, therefor I think this is wrong as anyone should.


    4. Bloody Sunday was an incident on 30 January 1972 in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland, in which 26 unarmed civil-rights protesters and bystanders were shot by soldiers of the British Army.The incident occurred during a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march. The soldiers involved were members of the First Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. A lot of these deaths were teenagers. Now if you think of this, this is horrible!!! This was happening during a march, and these kids were killed. Easy, just like that. The lives of these teens were taken in an instant. In my opinion this is not the way to deal with things like this. The British just opened fire on these people without any warning or any real reason. This is crazy in my opinion and things like this should be stopped!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fighting was prompted between the two thirds of Catholics and one third of Protestants for various reasons. The first and foremost is that beginning in the 1920’s the majority of power in Northern Ireland was mainly exercised by the Protestant Unionist Party. As a direct tangent from this, the Catholic minority was treated with inferiority, was discriminated against, and suffered injustice. In order to deal with this discrimination, the Catholics declared war for independence, and after many years of fighting formed a Civil Rights movement in the late 1960’s in order to protest for a reformed political system. This led to them being violent and rioting. In order to keep peace, Britain sent in their military. The Catholics at first welcomed this until the events of Bloody Sunday. The IRA used this outrage to their advantage. There has been conflict between them and Britain and Protestants ever since, though interrupted by periods of peace and negotiation.
    The IRA (Irish Republican Army), is a group that fights for independence from Britain, and to defend Catholic rights. Although their cause is considered noble by many, their chief method for partition is violence, bombing, and terrorism. This method although effective in gaining attention, causes the deaths and injuries of hundreds in Northern Ireland. One of the most recent bombing incidents was a car bomb in Omagh. The Real IRA, a break off group of the IRA, claimed responsibility for the bombing that killed 29 people in Northern Ireland, left many injured, and many more grieving.
    The British Military was at first sent into Northern Ireland in order to keep peace, protect the Protestants from violence, and monitor the Catholics. They would arrest and intern hundreds of Catholic protesters without trial in order to prevent further attacks. Instead of preventing attacks though, this only made people angrier and sparked more violence. People continued to protest and British military shot and killed 17 people protesting against interment on August 9, 1971. Unsurprisingly, this only made the situation worse. And after the events of Bloody Sunday, hundreds joined the IRA, and would bring violence for years to come. Although the point of the British military was to stop violence, it only brought anger and death.
    Bloody Sunday occurred on January 30, 1972. Civil Rights activists were marching in Derry when confronted by British soldiers. Instead of trying to disperse the crowd in a nonviolent way, the soldiers opened fire, killing 13, and injuring 14 others. This sparked anger in many, leading in an increase of IRA support.

    ReplyDelete
  11. 1. There has always been fighting between Catholics and Protestants, ever since Martin Luther founded many Protestant sects of Christianity in 1517. Therefore, it should not be a surprise that this problem still exists today, especially in Northern Ireland, which is near where the dispute first began. However, the fighting known as the “Troubles” in the past 60 years have become more of an issue than just not liking the other branch of the religion. In 1963, Terence O'Neill became the prime minister of Northern Ireland, and unlike the previous prime minister, (Viscount Brookeborough) he wanted to reunite the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland. People of Northern Ireland, especially the unionists, were worried when O’Neill went on to meet with the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland, Sean Lemass. The unionists definitely had a reason to be concerned though-this was the first of any communication between the two countries in over 40 years. Because of this meeting, extreme tension arose, and as a result each side created paramilitary groups to fight for their cause. These groups are known as the UVF, IFA, and NICRA. The UVF were for unionists, while the IFA and the NICRA were for Catholics who wanted to unite with the Republic of Ireland. Eventually, in 1966, both sides erupted, which created all of the fighting that has occurred in this region of the world for the past 60 years.


    2. The IRA stands for the Irish Republican Army. This was a paramilitary group set up to fight for a united Ireland. The majority of the people who were a part of this group were Catholics, as they wanted a united Ireland. However, the IRA was responsible for the majority of the republican violence during the Troubles because they claimed that they were defending the rights of the Catholic community. The IRA also planned bombings in many cities including Belfast and Omagh, as they wanted the world to know what they were capable of doing to promote for their cause. The IRA (also known as the PIRA after 1969) definitely affects residents in Northern Ireland, specifically those in Omagh, because before the “Troubles”, the town was just a “normal” town, but after, it put those citizens living in the area in constant fear of the IRA and whether or not it will happen again. Also, the same could be said about any other town in Northern Ireland-they are constantly living in fear because they do not know whether or not the IRA’s next attack will be in their hometown.


    3. The British military, under a “mission” called Operation Banner, were sent into Northern Ireland to help alleviate tension caused on both sides. The British army was in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2007, which is the longest British army deployment ever. However, the British Armed Forces caused more harm than good, as the IRA was determined to drive the British forces out of Northern Ireland, which caused more violence and more casualties. Everyone was unhappy with this situation, as the common citizens of Northern Ireland did not want soldiers in their country, the Republic of Ireland (specifically the IRA) did not want Britain influencing Northern Ireland, and the soldiers of Britain were unhappy being deployed for so long. Overall, the British Armed Forces being in Northern Ireland resulted in none of the parties being satisfied, and therefore led to more violence and fighting.


    4. Bloody Sunday was an event that took place on January 30th, 1972, in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. There was an illegal protest that had been put on by the IRA, and about 10,000 people had shown up to advocate for the issue. When the protest began, the British Armed Forces that had been deployed to Ireland confronted the protesters, and proceeded to shoot and kill 13 Catholics and injure another 17. After this tragic event, the common people of Northern Ireland, especially Nationalists and Catholics, did not trust the British army and did not like their presence in the country. As a result of this tragic day, more violence and warfare broke out.

    ReplyDelete
  12. 1. Catholics have been fighting with Protestants in Northern Ireland for the last 60 years because they are upset that Protestants have been getting better benefits. Voting rights were restricted to the taxpayers that owned property, which favored Protestants. This favored Protestants because Catholics in Northern Ireland generally do not have enough money to own their own property. In addition, Protestants received more government investments than the Catholics. Police harassment of Catholics also occurred. Overall, Protestants in Northern Ireland were getting better treatments than Catholics living in Northern Ireland, which led to conflict.

    2. The IRA is the Irish Republican Army, which is a paramilitary group that was originally set up to unite Ireland with no British rule. The Irish Republican Army supports the Catholics, and in turn, the Catholics support the IRA. Several hundred fighters make up the IRA. While Protestants living in Northern Ireland want to stay part of Britain, the Irish Republican Army wants Ireland to become one country. The situation in Northern Ireland regarding its citizens is majorly determined by the IRA. The Irish Republican Army is responsible for many bombings in Northern Ireland. Guerrilla tactics are also used the IRA, and they often use car bombs. Some of the biggest bombs that the Irish Republican Army have detonated include a bombing in Manchester on June 15, 1996 and a car bomb in Omagh on August 15, 1998. Sadly, the citizens of Northern Ireland are constantly living in fear that the IRA will detonate a bomb, and that they will be hurt, or even killed.

    3. The British military was originally sent to Northern Ireland in order to protect the Nationalist communities from Unionist attacks. Operation Banner (1969-2007) sent the British Army to Northern Ireland, hoping to help prevent violence. Britain hoped that their military would be able to stop violence, or at least, reduce the violence and make it difficult for the IRA to attack Northern Ireland. Even though this was their main goal, they were not able to complete it. The British Army upset the Catholics so that more joined the IRA and caused even more violence than there would have been.

    4. Bloody Sunday took place in Derry, Northern Ireland on January 30, 1972. On this day, the British Army opened fire on a peaceful protest. No one is sure how many people were protesting, but in the end 26 civilians were shot. Thirteen were killed and the rest were injured. Some protesters had started to throw stones at the soldiers, when they opened fire. This terrible event became a reason for more Catholics to join the Irish Republican Army, which they did. The IRA was now against the British Army and gave them a reason to fight.

    ReplyDelete
  13. 1. The Protestants (as part of the United Kingdom’s government) were in charge, which made the Catholics unhappy. Many laws tended to favor the Protestants, including voting.
    All the Catholics wanted was to be treated equally, so they decided to fight for one, united Ireland. On the other hand, the Protestants were content with the current situation; they were making more money than the Catholics and their belief system was the most prominent one in government, so they did not want to leave the control of the UK.
    After a new leader, Terrence O’Neill, came to power, things began to go downhill. The economic situation was not very good, and in an attempt to improve it he began meeting with the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland. Once he expressed an interest in the nationalist (mainly Catholic) community in Northern Ireland, the unionists (mainly Protestant) began to worry. They thought Ireland was going to become united, which they did not want. The Catholics began to get their hopes up for what might happen while the Protestants were mad and scared. They reacted violently, and rioting and murder followed.

    2. The Ireland Republican Army is a group set up to fight for a united Ireland, and it has Catholic support. They plan attacks on Northern Ireland to instill terror in the people. It is there way of rebelling against the Protestants and the British, hoping one day the government will give them what they want. The residents of Northern Ireland now live in constant fear for their lives because the IRA plant many bombs that are meant to murder hundreds of people.

    3. The purpose of having the British military in Northern Ireland was originally to protect the Catholic minority that was being attacked by the Protestants (called Operation Banner). However, since fighting broke out on both sides, they attempted to stop it all. They patrolled the streets with weapons, ready to end any fights, or any suspicious activity by the IRA and UVF, but having the British involved only made the Catholics more angry, because they were not completely protected and they initially want to break free from the United Kingdom. In a way, their presence made the situation worse. The Catholics became more violent, and in response, so did the Protestants.

    4. On January 30th of 1972 in a place called Derry, NI, there was a civil rights march. The British Army was sent to “suppress rioting” and they ended up killing thirteen (fourteen if you include the man who died later from wounds) people and wounded many others. This day came to be known as “Bloody Sunday.” As a result of the British shooting at and killing protesters and bystanders, the Catholics especially were angered. They initially thought the British Army would protect them from the loyalists, but then their own people were harmed. They lost faith in the British Army and after Bloody Sunday many more Catholics were inclined to join the IRA, which resulted in more violence in Northern Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  14. In 1920, Ireland was given the opportunity to separate politically from the rest of Ireland and remain part of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland consisted of mainly Protestants which were treated a lot better than the Catholics, because the Protestants where under British Government. Because of this the Protestants had a say in the government while the Catholics didn’t. The Catholics had little to no civil rights and were openly discriminated against. Therefore the Catholics got so fed up with the unfairness between the two religions that they started to protest.
    During the 1800s the north and south Ireland grew further apart due to economic differences. Anglican Protestants owned most of the land that resulted in a low standard of living for the large Catholic population. Most Irish Catholics wanted complete independence from Britain, but Irish Protestants feared living in a country ruled by a Catholic majority.
    The IRA (Irish Republican Army) re-emerged to defend the
    Catholics from Protestant’s “abuse.” The British Army was located in Northern Ireland in order to protect Protestants from Catholic/ IRA attack. The IRA and the British army “butted heads”. This included gun shootings, bombs, and much more. Bloody riots broke out in the town of in Londonderry and Belfast. The “Troubles,” which is what this time period in Northern Ireland was called, lasted 1963 to 1985. During that time period, more than 3,000 poor people lost their lives.
    The British army made the chaos in Northern Ireland even worse. On Sunday, January 30, 1972 twenty-seven unarmed civil rights marchers, mainly Catholic, were shot by British troops. Thirteen protesters where shot dead. This memorable act is now known as Bloody Sunday.
    The Troubles affected the lives of everyday individuals and bystanders as they went on with their daily routines. Civilians were often subjected to military checkpoints, bomb searches, and urban military combat through out the durations of the conflict.

    ReplyDelete
  15. 1. The Catholics and Protestants have been butting heads the past 60 years because these two groups aren’t treated equally. The Protestants make more money, live a more luxurious life and have their religion dominates the government. Because of this the Catholics are angry and have been trying to unite both groups for equal and fair rights for everyone in Ireland. The protestants of coarse don’t want to relinquish their power so they have been fighting against the Catholics so that they can maintain their current lifestyle and overall sense of control. Its because of these differences that there has been so much conflict.

    2. The IRA stands for the Irish Republican Army. This is a revolutionary military organization established in 1913. The IRA used violence and aggression to get what they wanted. They wanted to make Ireland a “politically united community” but committed terrible crimes and took innocent people’s lives in the process. The IRA is supported by the Catholics. The IRA puts a constant stress on the people of Northern Ireland because they live in fear every day of the violent acts that the IRA commit as a sign of rebellion against the British. Many innocent people have already died because of their actions and there will continue to be more fatalities until these two groups reach a middle ground.

    3. The British military was sent to Ireland to try and spread peace and to protect the Catholics against the acts of violence committed by the Protestants. Their goals were to stop the IRA and promote peace to Ireland and its citizens. Although the British military was unable to stop the IRA, they prevented them from overpowering the people in the North with their violent tactics. This however has inspired even more Catholics to join the IRA to get through the British military.

    4. Bloody Sunday occurred in January of 1972. The British army was sent to observe a peaceful protest incase violence broke out. Instead, they open fired on a group of unarmed people. About 15 people were killed and many more were wounded. This angered the Catholics greatly because the police were sent there to monitor the event, not kill innocent people and by standers. The British army’s actions that day made them lose many followers, and inspired Catholics to join the IRA in protest.

    - Natalie Dederich

    ReplyDelete
  16. Emma Trees
    Period 4

    1. The Catholics and Protestants have always had tension, which is one factor for their fighting. One reason for the tension was that Protestants were always favored compared to Catholics. For example, no one in government was allowed to be Catholic, so the entire government was made up of Protestant people. This caused a lot of unfair leverage for Protestants in government. Another example of Catholic oppression was that they did not have the same job opportunities as Protestant people and Protestant people went to better schools. They are also able to make more money. The main reason for the fighting is simply the tension between the two groups.

    2. The IRA stands for Irish Republican Army. It is a paramilitary group that started in 1922. The IRA fights for Catholics and killed more than 340 Protestant civilians. The IRA is in favor of the union of Ireland. They are willing to do what it takes to get what they want, including killing people or committing crimes. In 1994, the IRA announced a cease-fire which was temporarily broken down in 1996. The cease-fire resumed in 1997. They claimed that they believe peace is a better option, but still commit crimes.

    3. The British military had the difficult job of policing a province. Since this province was so hard to police, the army became very aggressive. Their presence in Northern Ireland made situations worse because of their part of Bloody Sunday. Bloody Sunday was a result of all the aggression from this army. After Bloody Sunday, even more troops were sent to the province to contain the increasing violence.

    4. Bloody Sunday was an incident in Northern Ireland. A protest was happening and the police did not warn anyone protesting that they should stop, they simply opened fire and started killing and wounding people. Usually, officers go through different stages of warnings for protesters, but on Bloody Sunday, they did not go through the steps. On that day, 14 Catholics were killed and 15 were wounded. This event made Catholic people angry and they went to the IRA.

    ReplyDelete
  17. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    Well, there is tension between Catholics and Protestants because Ireland is split, with the Northern part being under the rule of Great Britain. The Catholics want Ireland to be united as one country, including the Northern Part of Ireland, instead of having part of it be ruled by Great Britain. The Protestants want the Northern part of Ireland to stay a part of Great Britain, because they didn’t like the idea of being ruled by a country that was mainly Catholic. This is one of the main contributing factors that fuel the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    The IRA (or the Irish Republican Army) is an organization that is trying to unify Ireland to be one nation, instead of the Northern part being ruled by Great Britain, and having mostly Protestants living there. The IRA affects residents in Northern Ireland greatly. The Northern part of Ireland is made up of mostly Protestants, and the Catholics and the Protestants have a lot of tension. So the residents in Northern Ireland are constantly living in fear that the IRA is going to attack them. The IRA has had a lot of attacks on the Northern part of Ireland before including shootings and bombings.

    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence made the situation better or worse?
    Because the IRA was being so violent in Northern Ireland, the British Armies were deployed to Northern Ireland to try to stop them. This was known as a campaign called “Operation Banner.” They were supposed to try and stop violence from the IRA by preventing them from setting off bombs, and stopping them from using other weapons. They went in with peaceful intentions, but then things started getting more violent, and they started killing anyone who was in the IRA. At first, the people in Northern Ireland, especially the small amount of Catholics that lived there, welcomed the British armies happily, because they believed that they were neutral, and were there to protect the people from the IRA. However, after the British army started killing people, for example on bloody Sunday, they changed their minds, and believed that the British army was brutal. The presence of the British army made the situation worse, because it made people angry, and it also made people uneasy, afraid that they would be shot at any given moment.

    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland?
    Bloody Sunday was a massacre of unarmed civil rights protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland. It occurred on January 30th 1972. The British army is responsible for shooting and killing 26 protesters. The situation affected Northern Ireland because it made people angry with the British army, especially the Catholics that were living in Northern Ireland. The protesters were not doing anything wrong, and were brutally killed without any warning. This changed a lot of people’s opinions about the British army being in Northern Ireland. This also created even more tension between the Catholics and the Protestants in Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  18. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    A big contribution to the fighting between the Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years has been the extreme bias in Northern Ireland’s government towards Protestants. Voting rights were given only to people who paid property taxes which again, favored the Protestant majority. Due to the fact that Protestants had more advantages than Catholics, this also meant that they usually had more money. This made owning more properties to get more voting privileges even harder. Other discrimination against Catholics in Northern Ireland consisted of police harassment and their Catholic representatives in parliament not truly representing their party.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    The IRA is the Irish Republican Army which is a paramilitary group set up to fight for a united Ireland with no British rule. During the troubled years, the IRA was responsible for most of the bombing, raids, and street battles on both sides of the Irish border. They were also known for sneaking weapons across the Northern Ireland border for the Catholics to help fight against the Protestants. In 1969 the IRA split into two groups. The “officials” who disavowed any terrorism acts, and the “provisionals” who thought terrorism to be a necessity. The “provisional” group continued with attacks in Northern Ireland and even moved them to England. In 1994 the “provisional” IRA declared a ceasefire and peace was temporarily restored. But two major attacks after the ceasefire, one in Manchester in 1996 and then Omagh in 1998, once again set Northern Ireland into a state of unrest. The IRA is famous for guerilla tactics, which means that citizens of Northern Ireland never know when or where the next bomb will explode. Therefore, the people are living in constant fear of their surroundings and are never able to feel completely safe at home.

    ReplyDelete
  19. 3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence made the situation better or worse?
    Civil unrest brought about by the Catholic minority sending letters about discrimination began with Unionists believing that the IRA was behind the sudden inflammation and unrest of the Catholics. The Unionists responded with open hostility to the agitation and said the those involved were merely trying to undermine Northern Ireland state rather than amend it. Thus started the rioting on the streets and the confrontations of the Catholic and Protestant communities. The peak in the rioting occurred over three days during an annual march in 1969 and is now called The Battle of Bogside. It was this riot that caused the British troops to be deployed to Northern Ireland to try and separate the throngs of clashing Catholics and Protestants. The deployment of the troops lasted a whopping 38 years during which the British troops went head to head with the IRA. The IRA believed that after I while they would weaken the British and force them out of Northern Ireland while the British believed that aggressive attacks would paralyze the IRA. The presence of the British troops in Northern Ireland made the environment tense and uneasy because they were as much as a threat as they were peacekeepers. As for the citizens of Northern Ireland, the occupation of the British troops had either a soothing effect or an irritating effect. For Protestants living in Northern Ireland, the troops meant protection and a sense of safety. They were there solely to make sure that all didn’t go up in flames. But for the Catholics, the British troops were less accepted. If anything, it made the minority feel even more oppressed than they had before. The troops were more of a threat to the Catholics and offered little consolation when it came to their safety.

    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland.
    On January 30, 1972 thousands of people gathered in Derry, Northern Ireland to protest an internment without a trial organized by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. It just so happened that the government had banned such trials. The group was blocked from entering the town centre by the British Army and while moving to go join another rally, young men began throwing stones at the soldiers. The soldiers moved in on an arrest operation but instead shot and killed 14 unarmed, innocent citizens. According to the British Army, the soldiers had moved in on a sustained gun and bomb attack and only shot at citizens that were armed. But witness testimony contradicts the statements of the soldiers and clearly states that no citizens were armed in the protests. They day earned its name from the bloodshed of the innocent people that died. Bloody Sunday heightened the support for Republicanism and the IRA, clearly shown through the burning of the British Embassy in Dublin a few days after the event, in otherwise neutral Catholics and the general public. In the aftermath of the bloody sunday, pressure mounted throughout Ireland and ultimately increased the IRA’s determination for a united, uncontrolled Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  20. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    While there has always been tension between Catholics and Protestants, the primary tension that has arose over the past 60 years had been the power struggle between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The nationalists were mainly Catholic and the Unionists were mainly Protestant. Although the Republic of Ireland was mainly Catholic, the Northern Island was split about half and half between Catholics and Protestants. In the Northern Island, the government and upper class were protestant. Therefore, the society that favored Protestant opportunities angered Catholics. In the Northern Island in the year 1963, a new prime minister, Terence O’Neill, was elected to office in the Northern Island and made some radical changes. He met with the Republic of Ireland prime minister and the Nationalists gained hope that Ireland would be united while the Unionists protested against this. These protests quickly escalated into violent encounters that only increased the political turmoil. Since Protestants had an upper hand in society, they did not want to give their power up to the Catholics and wanted to stay apart of the United Kingdom and separate from the Republic of Ireland.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    The IRA stands for the Irish Republican Army. Although it is a powerful organization, it is not the official army of the Republic of Ireland. While their main cause is and has been to unite Ireland and have it be separate from the UK, the organization has committed many violent acts. The violence of the IRA has ranged from shootings to car bombs. One of the worst bombings was the infamous Omagh bombing, which occurred during August 15th, 1998 when a 500-pound car bomb killed 29 people and injured 220 people. What was most enraging about this attack was that it happened during the “Good Friday” several day cease-fire.

    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Have they been a presence there, and has that presence made the situation better or worse?
    The British army has intervened and combated against the IRA. Due to the IRA’s unconventional Guerilla tactics in an urban environment, it is a very difficult operation to dismantle the violence. The British military was deployed in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2007 and began a mission called “Operation Banner” to initiate peace and alleviate tension. On one hand, the British military presence has provoked the IRA and has caused more tension. On the other hand, the military presence, which has worked with law enforcements, has regulated and heavily searched for potential threats and weapons while clearing a lot of hostility zones. Due to the IRA’s unconventional Guerilla tactics in an urban environment, it is a very difficult operation to dismantle the violence. However, the presence has restricted the IRA to the point where it is difficult for them to act violently and has been an overall necessity in this complicated conflict.

    3. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland. On January 30, 1927 during a public protest in Londonburry, Northern Island, 14 Catholics were shot dead. Despite minor aggression from the crowd such as the throwing of objects, the illegal protest was peaceful. After shooting water cannons and rubber bullets at the protest, members of the British First Battalion Parachute Regiment and immediately proceeded to the unnecessary violence of open firing at the protesters. The Northern Island Civil Rights Association protest was horrified at the shooting which killed 13 people. A famous song called “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by the edge in 1982 captured the history of this incident as well as the Omagh Bombing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The last paragraph is actually #4

      Delete
  21. JAMES LOVBERG
    1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?

    Ireland split in two 90 years ago. The south part became the Republic, which was Catholic, and the north part became Northern Ireland, which was Protestant. The Nationalists who are mainly Catholic thought Northern Ireland should join the republic of Ireland to form an independent Ireland, and the unionists believed Northern Ireland should stay part of Great Britain.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?

    The IRA is the Irish Republic Army, who wanted a united Ireland, but became committed to peace supporting the Catholics. Before they were committed to peace, they wanted the British out of Ireland, and showed their displeasure by partaking in a 30 year armed campaign and taking 1707 lives.

    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?

    The British military patrolled Northern Ireland because of student led protests due to economic problems. They were sent there to help the police restore order. Their invasion caused tension among the civilians, which in effect made the fighting and protesting increase and the situation worse.

    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland?

    Bloody Sunday, also known as the Bogside Massacre, was the British Army killing 26 unarmed protesters on late January day. After lots of protesting by the unpleased citizens, the British set up a blockade and as the protesters moved in, the army moved in for arrests and ended up opening fire. The effects of this massacre was hatred of Catholics by the Protestants increased, the tension from Unionist and Loyalist sides increases, and the IRA gained more support.

    ReplyDelete
  22. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?

    -Many things have contributed to the fighting between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, such as the discrimination against Catholics and Protestant ideals before forced upon the citizens by law. The Protestants believe that the Catholics shouldn’t have a say in their way of life and should remain a part of Great Britain, while the Catholics believe that they should be free to practice their own religion without being punished and live in fear of their life for practicing it. Protestants not only have control of the businesses, courts, and the police, but they also have a higher standard of living than the Catholics in Northern Ireland. Thousands of people on both sides were killed over these beliefs, while republican groups also launched attacks on the UK mainland.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?

    The IRA is a paramilitary group set to fight for a united Ireland, but is now committed to peace (Catholic support). They are also responsible for much of the republican violence during the Troubles.

    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?

    At first, British troops were deployed to protect the Catholics, but soon turned into fierce fighting with paramilitary groups. Originally it benefitted them because it provided protection and safety on the streets of Northern Ireland, but when it turned into a blood bath it only made matters worse. Then the Catholics were not only fighting against the non-Catholics, protagonists, they were fighting against their supposed protectors.

    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland?

    The people of Northern Ireland planned on marching to the Guildhall, but were rerouted to the Free Derry corner. Some teenagers broke away from the group and attempted to push through the barricade that rerouted them. While they were throwing stones at these British troops, they were being shot and killed in return. 26 unarmed civilians ended up being killed in this episode. After Bloody Sunday many Catholics turned on the British army because they no longer saw it as their protector, but as their enemy.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Tensions between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland existed prior to the 1960's due to less political rights granted to Catholics and the discrimination they endured in everyday life. Ratepayers were the only ones allowed to vote, and those holding more properties were allotted more votes. Government investment favored Protestant neighbourhoods. All of these inequalities made the Protestants and Catholics even more separate. Then, economic decline in the early 1960's led to the replacement of the old prime minister. The new prime minister began to reach out to the Catholic community in Northern Ireland, in sighting fear and anger in the Protestants. Disquiet finally turned to violence when the UVF murdered two Catholics and a Protestant. Although the prime minister banned the UVF immediately, the Catholic population remained wary, resulting in the establishment of NICRA. Now with paramilitary groups on both sides - UVF on the unionist side and NICRA and IRA on the republic side - it wasn’t long before Northern Ireland descended into violence.

    The IRA stands for the Irish Republican Army. Its goal is a united Ireland free of British rule. The IRA has used violence and terror to further the cause. Bombing, assassinations, kidnapping, and other methods of threatening Britain and Northern Ireland have been used. In 1969, the IRA split into two groups. The official IRA, based in Dublin, campaigned for a free Ireland peacefully. The PIRA (Provisional IRA) was based in Belfast and continued to use violence to push for union. In 1972, the PIRA unleashed 22 bombs on Belfast, killing 9 people and injuring about 130. The fear of violence and the anticipation of another attack grips the people of Northern Ireland.

    Initially, the British military worked to protect the Unionists from the IRA and its supporting forces. It supported the police force of Northern Ireland in accordance with Operation Banner, its mission to counter terrorism and end the fighting going on. At first, the Nationalists of Northern Ireland accepted the British military as a neutral and beneficial force. This changed after Bloody Sunday, when the military opened fire on protesters, killing 14. While the initial goal of the military was to restore peace to Ireland, their interference only created more violence and trouble.


    Bloody Sunday was the massacre of protesters in the city of Bogside in 1972. Protesters were peacefully demonstrating against internment without trial. A few objects were thrown at soldiers there, but when the army opened fire, it was viewed as completely unprovoked. The 30 minute gunfire left 13 dead and 17 wounded. Bloody Sunday completely reversed the Catholics’ initial acceptance of the army in Northern Ireland. This act of violence still scars the people of Northern Ireland today.

    ReplyDelete
  24. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    Most of the Catholics in Northern Ireland want to join the Republic of Ireland, while the most of the Protestants want to stay in the UK because they are afraid of being in a country which is Catholic majority. Since 17th century, the Catholics and the Protestants have been fighting against each other; the great hatred had already made these two different groups of people prejudice to each other. When the Catholics started a peaceful civil right movement in 1968, some radical felt dangerous immediately, so they began to initiate some violent movements including attack the Catholics. Although the British sent troops to Ireland to stabilize the situation in Ireland, it didn’t really work. Actually it even worsened the situation because some of the Catholics think they gave secret support to the Protestants who attacked them. And once the conflict started, the gap between these two groups became larger and larger.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    IRA is Irish Republic Army, which is the military establishment of the Sinn Fin Party.IRA was Engaged in violence during a long period time. They used to fight against the British military deployed in Northern Ireland, and they also planned a lot of explosions and murder.IRA is also responsible for at least 2000 people’s death during the violent confrontations. All of these things worsen the situation in Northern Ireland. However, now they became more peaceful, but still committing to the United Ireland.

    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?
    During the riot happened in the year 1969, the Protestants in Northern Ireland was attacked by the Catholics. In order to stabilize the situation there, the British government sent a group of army to initiate an operation named “Operation Banner” whose purpose is keeping Ireland peaceful. However, they weren’t really functioned, even made the situation worse. Both Catholics and Protestants think the British military’s dispose is trend to the other group. They also provoked much controversy because of killing unarmed citizens.

    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland?
    It was a incident on 30 January 1972 in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland, in which 26 unarmed civil-rights protesters and bystanders were shot by soldiers of the British Army. This incident made all the Irish people doubt the British military, and the British military was also condemned by the whole world. This incident also intensified the conflict in Northern Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  25. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    A: The fighting between Catholics and Protestants was instigated by a variety of things. The two largest reasons were because of discrepancies in beliefs between the two religions, as well as government bias towards the protestant group. Northern Ireland has a two-thirds majority of protestants, versus the catholics which has been the primary reason as to this government bias. Also, the Catholics in Northern Ireland have generally had a lower quality of life. The government in Northern Ireland has spent less on catholic interests than they have on protestant interests. Also, the Catholics in Northern Ireland are generally discriminated against in Northern Ireland.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    A: The IRA is the Irish Republican Army. Their goal is the defense of the civil rights of the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland. The official IRA decided to abandon violence in the year 1962. However, another branch of the IRA, called the “Provisional” IRA (or PIRA) broke away from the official IRA. Like the official IRA, they are dedicated to the defense of the civil rights of the Catholic Minority. However, they were not above using violence and violent methods to achieve these goals. They simultaneously detonated 20 bombs in the city of Belfast, an event that would come to be known as “Bloody Friday.” This no doubt struck fear into many people’s hearts in Northern Ireland.

    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?
    A: The British Military was sent into Northern Ireland in order to attempt to restore order to the area. However, their multiple attempts at controlling the PIRA (House to House searches, Curfew) only caused more people to join the ranks of multiple paramilitary groups. The British Military eventually ordered more aggressive procedures to control the situation in Northern Ireland. Overall, the presence of the army had certainly not had positive effects.

    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland.
    A: Bloody Sunday is the term given to the fateful day: January 30, 1972. It was on this day that 26 people were shot, and thirteen of whom died because of said wounds. They were shot by British Paratroopers that were sent into the area of Derry in order to quell a protest in the area. One more died later because of his wounds. As a result, more civilians rushed to join the ranks of the IRA and PIRA, which led to more British Troops being deployed to the area. It definitely did not have a very positive effect.

    ReplyDelete
  26. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years? The Protestants and Catholics had issues with their religion. The Republicans were catholic and the Unionists were Protestants. In Northern Ireland 50% were Protestants and 50% were Catholics, which became more of a conflict. The Protestants were in charge of Northern Ireland and the Catholics had to follow them, because Protestants thought more traditionally than Catholics did. The United Kingdom’s government had control over Northern Ireland, which the republicans did not like. They didn’t like this, because it was supposed to be apart of their government and land. The United Kingdom did not want to give the republican’s the land, because there were a lot of loyalists there and they had a big source there. The republican’s were very passionate about this that they would do evil crimes to get the United Kingdom to listen to them. That would mean to sacrifice their allies. Then the British army was supposed to protect the catholic people in Northern Ireland, but then started blaming them and fighting them.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland? The IRA is one of two groups during this period. IRA stands for Irish Republican Army. It was a paramilitary group who were determined to fight for a united Ireland. They would do violent things to get Great Britain to listen to them. This group did the most violence during that time period. They would plant bombs in unexpected places in small towns. They would also send many rifles to Northern Ireland. It became worse when they turned to the PIRA (Provisional Irish Republic Army), which became more violent and planned all of the evil things in the small towns. They had supported civil rights. This affected residents in Northern Ireland, by making them fear for their life wherever they went. They were constantly paranoid of when and where the next attack was going to be. Around the end of 1971 they had killed 150 people and that wasn’t even the bloodiest year.

    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?
    The British military was sent to Northern Ireland, because they had to protect the Catholics. They also had to calm down the tension between both sides. Instead the British military made things from bad to worse. They did not even help the Catholics, but instead blamed them for this period and even fought with them. They also had to control the PIRA by going to their homes and searching for any weapons or bombs. They also gave the people a curfew, which made more people join sides. Neither the IRA nor the UVF wanted the British military to be in Northern Ireland. The people in Northern Ireland felt intimidated with the British military being near them with hands on weapons. They were also afraid, because the British military had killed an amount of people. The presence of them did not make anyone safer but made them fear for their life’s even more.
    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland.
    Bloody Sunday was an unforgettable event on January 30, 1972 in Derry, Northern Ireland. It started off as a peaceful protest, which was illegal and had been operated by the IRA. A few thousand people had shown up to the protest. When it was starting the British military stepped forward and stopped the protest even if it wasn’t harming anyone. They proceeded by shooting 26 unarmed harmless people. Out of the 26 people 13 of them died and the rest were injured. After that had occurred, nobody (specifically the nationalists and Catholics) trusted the British military. From a result of this awful experience, there was more violence and more Catholics and nationalists joined the IRA group.

    ReplyDelete
  27. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    The spark that has helped to illuminate the big conflict between the Catholics and Protestant s started ninety years ago when the people living in Ireland fought for their own independence. Though the Irish were able to take over most of the Island from Britain’s reign, the British took the northern most part of the island. They took this because they knew that there were many Protestants to support them there. Thirty years after Irelands independence Christians in Northern Ireland became frustrated with the rights they had compared to the Protestants. The ideas of Protestants going to better schools and having better jobs than the Christians made them demand for a change. The Christians thought they deserved an equal opportunity to have a very good job and future. The Irish started demonstrations. As these demonstrations became larger they became controlled by the police forces that were protestant. The tension between the demonstrators and the Protestants exploded on January, 30 1972 when the British military shot in a crowd of innocent protestors. They ended up killing thirteen people. This is what began the most violent era for Northern Ireland since the war against England. Chaos started breaking through Northern Irelands streets as people were tired by being ruled by the British government.

    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    The IRA is a group of Irish people that are trying to free Northern Ireland from England. They have played a great part in increasing the tensions between the Christians and Protestants. Many of their attacks in Northern Ireland and the U.K happen in the form of bombs. This has spread much fear and anger in the protestant population in England and Northern Ireland. The Protestants are not the only ones who have been greatly affected by the IRA. Christians have been very frustrated with the increasing number of police and the presence of military in Northern Ireland because of the IRA’s attacks. The reason why they were angry of having soldiers on the streets is because they felt like they were being watched over and therefor controlled by Protestants. This continues to discriminate them from having better jobs and makes them feel like they are in a lower class because of their religion. Today the danger of the IRA continues as people never know where they will detonate a bomb. Who knows, the next attack might be in the busy streets of London or in the little English towns, like Omagh.

    ReplyDelete
  28. 3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland?
    The British military was deployed in Ireland all the way from 1969 to 2007. The military’s job was to protect all the Protestants. This later did not become the case as they started becoming involved in cracking down against the riots. These actions made the idea of having the British Military a bad one as the Christians became even more infuriated as they felt more of a presence of a unfair British rule. This ended up increasing the hate between Protestants and Christians. This caused the military to stay a long time in Northern Ireland as they were scared that the Christians were going to kill many Protestants. Thankfully the British military were able to leave Northern Ireland in 2007.

    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland?
    Bloody Sunday took place in London Berry on January, 30 1972. The day of January 30th started with a nice, peaceful protest against the discriminations towards the Christians in Northern Ireland. Violence suddenly broke out when a general misspoke and ordered the soldiers to fire on the peaceful demonstrators. In the end of the shooting, thirteen demonstrators were killed and seventeen injured. This greatly outraged the Catholic population in Northern Ireland as they were doing nothing wrong other than expressing their beliefs. The incident went under investigation and it was found that the British military made a great mistake to fire on the civil rights activists. These officers shot people suddenly without using any type of force before. This therefor makes the British fully accountable on what happened on bloody Sunday. Thankfully since the tragedy, the British have claimed responsibility for their actions on bloody Sunday.

    ReplyDelete
  29. 1:The fact that Catholics are a majority in Ireland but not in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and that makes the UK less relatable to the people of Ireland and they can’t understand why they should be governed by them. Since the catholics are a minority in Northern Ireland they are treated unfairly by the government of the UK. To many people in Northern Ireland and Ireland they felt like they were invaded by an outside force and were governed by and outside presence.


    2:The IRA (Irish Republican Army) was a revolutionary paramilitary militia. It was made up of volunteers from all across Ireland and Northern Ireland who wanted to fight for the united Ireland. The group was established in 1969 after the party they were represented by didn’t protect the citizens that were brutalized by the british. There goal is to unite the island of Ireland under one government and kick the british out. They use bombs in Northern Ireland to show that their message is worth killing over and they use guerilla tactics when fighting the british military to disorganize them.


    3:The British military patrols the streets of cities in Northern Ireland to make sure no suspicious behavior is going on. They also have been demoing small shanty towns that are predominantly catholic which causes tension between the catholic community and the british military. Their basic presence makes everything worse for the community as a whole, they make the people feel fearful and oppressed.


    4:Also known as the Bogside Massacre, Bloody Sunday happened on January 30, 1972 where 26 unarmed civil rights protesters were shot by soldiers of the British army, It was an unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters. This triggered major conflicts between the IRA and the British Military for 50 more years.

    ReplyDelete
  30. 1. The Catholics and Protestants for the last 60 years have been fighting over the unfair government. Voting privileges only to those who owned multiple properties the Protestants were much wealthier than the Catholics, which made it difficult for them to have as many rights as the Protestants. The protestants had more luxuries compared to the Catholics since they made more money. For the past 60 years the Catholics as a minority have been fighting for their rights and for equality.
    2. IRA stands for Irish Republican Army. The IRA is a group of paramilitary people who fight for a united Ireland. They are now committed to be peaceful but they were once a violent group who was responsible for the republican violence during the Troubles.
    3. Originally the British army was sent to protect the Catholic minority and spread peace through out Ireland. They were unable to do their job and stop the IRA. This brought chaos and each side fought each other. The British military attempted to stop all of the fighting by patrolling the streets with weapons. These actions that the British military inspired the Catholics to join the IRA because of anger towards the British military. The Catholics felt that they were not fully protected so they decided to break free from the United Kingdom. This brought even more violence between the Catholics and Protestants making the situation worse.
    4. Bloody Sunday was a event occurred on January 30th, 1972. It was a protest that was created by the IRA, and on that day the British army acted violently on peaceful protest. The death total was about thirteen, twenty-six civilians were shot. Many people participated in this protest and the British army was sent to terminate the protest but the protest went from being peaceful to violent. This became known as “Bloody Sunday”. The Catholics were furious with British army shooting at citizens they started throwing stones at the soldiers.

    ReplyDelete
  31. The troubles in Northern Ireland are based around the argument on whether or not Northern Ireland should be united with the Country of Ireland. Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, is about two-thirds protestant and one-third catholic. Ireland is almost completely catholic. Catholics in Northern Ireland had been discriminated by laws which said that only ratepayers could vote and those who owned multiple properties could vote more. Also, more government investment was spent on Protestant areas than Catholic, Catholics were not allowed in parliament, and other forms of discrimination, such as police harassment, were very common. With the Protestants more privileged, they were also richer, and held more power in society. In 1963, Terence O’Neill became the new prime minister of Northern Ireland. He believed he needed to address the discrimination issues, and met with the prime minister of Irelans. This made the Protestants very nervous, and led to the formation of a Protestant “loyalist” group called the UVF which started violence. With that new Catholic groups, Nicra and the IRA, were also created, which added violence on both sides.

    The IRA is the Irish Republican Army. They were a group whose main purpose was to defend the Catholic minority and to get Northern Ireland united with the Republic of Ireland. In 1969 the IRA split off into two parts; the “provisional” IRA and the “official” IRA. Both believed in supporting civil rights but the PIRA was willing to use violence and threats to get what they wanted.

    The British Army was initially brought into the conflicts as a neutral force, but it was soon seen that their main goal was to control the PIRA. As this got more difficult, they became more aggressive. On Bloody Sunday the army killed 14 demonstrators at a civil rights march. This aggravated the IRA and caused more troops to be deployed to the area. So instead of creating peace, the British Army sparked anger and violence.

    On January 30, 1972 the British Army killed 14 demonstrators at a peaceful Nicra civil rights protest in Derry Northern Ireland. 26 unarmed people were shot. The soldiers and British government were originally freed from blame. This made very many people upset and caused even more unrest in Northern Ireland. It also caused many more people join the PIRA.

    ReplyDelete
  32. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    Since the 1100’s there were constant revolts that challenged brutal British rule of Ireland. This started a chain of events leading to a civil war and a separation of Ireland. Since they were governed by Protestants, the Catholic minority there suffered discrimination when it’d come to housing and jobs when governed by the Protestants. Catholics’ have been bitter about there poor treatment ever since and therefore fight with the protestants. Too add to the Catholics’ resentment, Northern Ireland remained a part of Great Britain while Southern Ireland got there freedom. This spit the views of people in Northern Ireland by religion. Some people in Northern Ireland, particularly Protestants, believe N.I. should remain part of the United Kingdom. Others, mostly the mainly Catholic community, believe that Northern Ireland should leave the U.K. and become a part of Southern Ireland.


    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?

    The IRA (Ireland Republic Army) is a group, mainly Catholic, that was set up to fight for a united Ireland. This group tried to make Ireland its own nation and in the end succeeded. During the 1970s-1990s, the IRA was said to receive weapons and training from many international sources, most notably The United States, Libya and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The IRA was responsible for much of the Republican violence during Ireland’s ‘Troubles’. They targeted attacks at Protestants in Northern Ireland. Some of their most well-known mass-killing effects were Bloody Sunday (1972) killing 72 people and a car-bombing (1998) killing 29 people.


    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?

    The British military was sent to Northern Ireland to stop the IRA because they were being so violent. They were supposed to stop the IRA from setting of bombs and attacking citizens, but there peaceful intentions simply added more violence. There presence made things worse because they made the Catholics become more violent and in return so did the protestants.



    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland.

    Bloody Sunday was happened in Derry, Northern Ireland on January 30, 1972. The British open fired in during a peaceful protest of 10,000 run by the IRA. They shot at 26 unarmed civil rights protesters 13 of which died As a result of Bloody Sunday, citizens were unforgiving with the British army. This meant many people rushed to join organizations such as the IRA.

    ReplyDelete
  33. 1. What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    First off, the protestants were on top. They had a higher income, a more luxurious life, and a significantly larger amount of people within their religion. This, as can be imagined, initially made the Catholics feel vulnerable, defensive, and eager for equal rights. Therefore, the Catholics wanted to unite Ireland as a whole and have equality/ better lifestyles. However, the Protestants wanted Northern Ireland (the Catholics) to remain a part of Great Britain so they could keep their luxurious lifestyle and high power. Later, as the heat between them grew, the republicans (protestants) launched attacks on the UK mainland, and in return British troops were deployed to protect the Catholics. In result, much fighting erupted and the feud got worse.
    2. What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    ~ The IRA- Irish Republican Army- is a paramilitary group set up to fight for a united Ireland, but is soon now committed to peace (Catholic support). They are responsible for much of the republican violence during the Troubles. They affect residents in Northern Ireland by trying to protect the Catholics from all the Protestant attacks.
    3. What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a precence there, and has that precence make the situation better or worse?
    ~ The British military monitor all social life in Northern Ireland. They have presence there because the government felt it necessary to have continuous protection for the Catholics against the Protestants because of the bombings and such that happened previously. It made the situation worse because the people don’t trust the IRA anymore for how they have handled this whole situation in the past. Now, the people just feel as though they are being mislead and controlled.
    4. What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland.
    ~Bloody Sunday was an incident on January 30,1972 in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland, in which 26 unarmed civil-rights protesters and bystanders were shot by soldiers of the British Army. It affected the situation in Northern Ireland by angering the Catholics because they trusted the IRA to handle things safely, and they didn’t.

    ReplyDelete
  34. 1.Q What has contributed to the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the last 60 years?
    1.A The quarrels between the Catholics and the Protestants has generally stemmed from the government in Northern Ireland being very biased in its support. The political structure in Northern Ireland generally benefited the Protestants much more so than the Catholics living there. The Protestants would get benefits such as the right to vote (up to six times) and a higher education than the Catholics who experienced continual police harassment and general alienation from politics. These religious, social and political differences would lead to much of the fighting that has come about in the last 60 years.

    2.Q What is the IRA, and how does it affect residents in Northern Ireland?
    2.A The IRA, also known as the Ireland Republican Army, was a Catholic group, very similar to a large organized gang, that fought to take back Northern Ireland from the British and the Protestants. The IRA affected everyone fairly negatively, as they caused many civilian deaths. The IRA was responsible for most of the civilian bloodshed in Ireland as a whole.

    3.Q What do the British military do in Northern Ireland? Why have they been a presence there, and has that presence make the situation better or worse?
    3.A The British military had occupied Northern Ireland as part of an attempt to prevent bombings and keep it as a British territory. The British only came as a response to the violence the IRA had been causing in Northern Ireland, so they were seen as a neutral party to both Catholics and Protestants when they first arrived. As time went on, the British military was viewed very negatively in the eyes of the Catholics, mainly due to an event known as bloody Sunday.

    4.Q What was Bloody Sunday (1972) and how did it affect the situation in Northern Ireland?
    4.A Bloody Sunday was an event when a group of teenagers that were part of a peaceful protest were fired at and were killed and maimed by British forces.

    ReplyDelete
  35. 1. The fighting between the Catholics and Protestants first started mainly 90 years ago when Ireland split into two. The Southern side became know as the Republic who were strong Catholics while the Northern side stayed part of the UK remaining Protestant. The southern Nationalist believes that the North should join together to become a united, independent Ireland. However, the loyalists on the Northern side believe that they should stay part of the Great Britain. However, starting again in 1960, there was an increased level of violence called the “troubles.” This was a time of major war, thousand on either side was killed and the Republican groups were even launching attacks on the UK mainland spreading the violence. This gave the British troop a reason to get involved in the fighting. Their goal was to protect the Catholics, however they were quickly involved in the fighting. This situation was more difficult for the Catholics because they were not as well of as the Protestants. They did not have the right to vote, nor did they have representation in parliament. In addition their housing and education were poor. This tension added to the violence.

    2. The IRA or the Irish Republican Army, was originally created on November 25, 1913. They were not uniformed men, more like a gang if you will, and their goal was to fight for a United Ireland. They are now committed to peace however they were responsible for much of the republican violence during the troubles. They targeted uniformed British members however were also involved in random bombings, assassinations, and robberies.

    3. The British military in Ireland tried to keep the violence under control. They created the Operation banner, which was “the operational name for the British armed forces’ operation in Northern Ireland.” This lasted from 1969 to 2007 and within this period, the British could not defeat the IRA, however during this time it was impossible for the IRA to win through violence. So was this positive for Ireland? Yes this was positive, it kept the violence away for a good period of time.

    4. Bloody Sunday was a horrible time for Ireland. On January 30 of 1972, a peaceful protest for “change” took place in which 26 people died by the guns of the British Army. This act aroused many problems such as more protests, and even more violence. The British embassy was even set aflame on February second. Because of Bloody Sunday, the IRA was also created which, as I had mentioned earlier, arose many problems. They set off many bombs and targeted the British military, causing huge damage for Northern Ireland. It wasn’t until 2005 that they fulfilled to the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement and disarmed.

    By: Colton Bancroft

    ReplyDelete
  36. 1. The Northern Ireland conflict is a dispute for territory, religion, and culture. The fighting did not spontaneously begin overnight, but gradually started over a longer period of time. The basic idea is that the Catholics in Ireland wanted their home country and Northern Ireland, which is a part of the U.K., to unite. Part of the issue was that the protestants had higher living standards than the catholics, therefore creating unfair rights between the protestant majority and the catholic minority of Northern Ireland. The catholic minority wanted equal treatment, and felt they should not have to be governed by such a biased government.


    2. The Irish Republican Army, or the IRA, are a group of Catholics in favor of the marriage between Northern Ireland and Ireland. They often “terrorize” Northern ireland in order to place a spotlight on the issue at hand. The IRA are often held responsible for most of the violence during Ireland’s ‘troubles’ However, it has been said that the IRA is now, for the most part, committed to peace.

    3. From 1969 to 2007, British military were sent to Northern Ireland on a “peacekeeping” mission, also known as Operation Banner. Although the British military arrived with the intention of protecting protestants from violence, their presence sparked even more tension in Northern Ireland. The IRA grew, and sought to rid Northern Ireland of these police figures. The situation became worse due to an increase in violence which Operation Banner could be held responsible.

    4. On January 30, 1972, Catholic activists were shot by British police during a public protest in Northern Ireland. The killing of 14 innocent protestors provoked uproar among Catholics in Ireland, causing support for groups like the IRA to increase. Although it was a sad day, it somewhat gave the IRA an advantage because of their newly justified reason to fight for the uniting of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  37. 1. a)The Protestants have only been in power of Northern Ireland in the past because the British held ultimate authority back then and they followed the same beliefs as the Protestants did. This left the Catholics with less rights because the British were with the opposing side. The Catholics desperately wanted Northern Ireland to be “united”/apart of the republic, as this would give Catholics more say and authority in everyday life. When the British held complete power in NI, the Catholic citizens were given barely any opportunities or rights. The Catholics would keep trying to stand up against the unbalanced authority of the British.



    2. a)The IRA was the Ireland Republic Army. They aren’t a uniformed group of people, just protesters against British rule in Ireland. They wanted an even amount of rights for all citizens in NI and didn’t believe the British were ruling justly whatsoever. They were a terror-inducing group who wanted liberty from the British. They would do whatever they kid to make a statement for the Catholic citizens in NI. They would even illegally smuggle weapons into Northern Ireland to give to Catholics in order to make a stand against the Protestants.

    3. a) The British military were first sent to NI to start a peace “movement”. Once the IRA became known, the British military stayed in Northern Ireland in hopes of stopping the IRA’s terrorizing intentions. Though they didn’t completely eliminate the IRA, they were able to slow the violent attacks by them.


    4. a) On January 30th , 1972, 14 Catholics were shot dead during a protest by British officials in Londonburry, Northern Ireland. The British policeman decided to open fire after Catholic protesters began throwing rocks and bottles in the direction of them. This violent act by the British outraged the Catholic citizens and made them want to rise up against the Protestants even more so. This increased Catholic terror groups against the communities of Protestant or Loyalist followers.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Casino de Vegas - DrmCD
    Casino de Vegas · Gambling establishment. Casino de Vegas. 상주 출장안마 Las Vegas, 용인 출장마사지 Nevada. · Address: 3121 안산 출장샵 N. Las 양주 출장샵 Vegas Blvd · 대구광역 출장마사지 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

    ReplyDelete