Internationally, NI is probably best known as the site of a violent ethnic,sectarian, nationalist, and political conflict – the Troubles – between the
nationalists, who see themselves as primarily Irish and are predominatelyRoman Catholic, and the
unionists, who consider themselves primarily British and arepredominately Protestant
(additionally, there are people from both sides who identify with more extremepositions)
Simply put, the unionists want NI to remain as part of the UK (“loyalist” isa term used to identify as an extreme unionist), while the nationalistswant NI to reunify with the Republic of Ireland, independent of Britishrule (“republican” is a term used to identify as an extreme nationalist)
Since 1998, all of the paramilitary groups involved in the Troubles (e.g. IRAand UVF) have ceased their armed campaigns.
A Brief History of the Troubles: Early 1600sA Brief History of the Troubles: Early 1600s
•The Plantation of Ulster refersto the colonization of Ulster – aprovince in northern Ireland– byProtestants from Scotland andEngland.
•Private plantation by wealthylandowners began in 1606, whileofficially sanctioned by James I in1609.
•All lands owned by Irish chieftains inUlster (along with those of theirsupporters) were confiscated andused to settle the colonists.
The counties of Ulster (modernboundaries) that were colonizedduring the plantation era - shadedarea
1688 – William of Orange
British Protestants “invite” Williamof Orange, a Protestant prince fromthe Netherlands, to rule Englandand Scotland.
When he arrives in Britain James II -the ruling Catholic king - is deposedand flees to Ireland.
In 1690 William defeats James at theBattle of the Boyne.
after battle the Irish Protestants whofought alongside William are known asOrangemen. The battle is commemoratedevery July 12 with Orange marches inmany cities in Northern Ireland.
Battle of the Boyne (12 July 1690)
1690 – a system of Protestant English rule isimposed which is designed to materiallydisadvantage the Catholic majority and Protestantdissenters
This system was extended again during the 18th C. andparts of it continued up to 1998.
1801 – Act of Union
the entire island of Ireland becomes part of UK
1905 – Sinn Féin political party is established byCatholics with the intention of freeing Ireland fromBritish rule
1913 – Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) a paramilitarygroup created by Protestants who oppose theconcept of Irish Home Rule.
1916 – The Easter Uprising
Political and sectarian conflict over whether Irelandshould remain part of the UK culminates in theEaster Uprising, when Irish Catholics seize strategicbuildings in Dublin, notably the general post office.
An est. 20,000 British soldiers enter the city and fireon the rebels. The fighting lasts for five days and therebels are forced to surrender. Seventy aresentenced to death and 15 are executed, fuellingsupport for Sinn Féin – the political partyrepresenting the nationalist cause.
Catholic rebels become known as the IrishRepublican Army (IRA).
1919-1922 – War of Independence & thePartitioning of the Ireland
Following the Easter Up-Rising, Sinn Féin won amajority of seats in Ireland and set up the First IrishParliament in Dublin.
Ireland declares its secession from the UK. The IrishWar for Independence followed, leading to theestablishment of the Irish Free State.
In Ulster, however, and particularly in the sixcounties which became as Northern Ireland, SinnFéin fared poorly in the 1918 election, andUnionists won a strong majority.
The Government of Ireland Act 1920 partitioned theisland of Ireland into two separate jurisdictions,Southern Ireland (comprising the 26 southerncounties – each with a Catholic majority) andNorthern Ireland (comprising the 6 Ulster counties –each with a Protestant majority), both as devolvedregions of the United Kingdom.
This partition of Ireland was confirmed when theParliament of Northern Ireland exercised its right inDecember 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921to opt out of the newly established Irish Free State.
Violence escalates as Catholics oppose partition.
The Anglo-Irish Treaty, 1921 provided for a self-governing Irish state in the south, having its ownarmy and police.
However, rather than creating the independentrepublic, which was favored by nationalists, theIrish Free State would be an “autonomousdominion of the British Empire” with the Britishmonarch as head of state, in the same manner asCanada and Australia.
Michael Collins was anIrish revolutionary leader,Director of the Irishdelegation during theAnglo-Irish Treatynegotiations. Subsequently,he was Chairman of theProvisional Governmentuntil his death during theIrish Civil War. His“compromise” on NorthernIreland not beingimmediately included inthe Anglo-Irish Treaty isstill viewed by many inNorthern Ireland as sellingthem out.
1922-26 - The Irish Civil Warwaged between two opposinggroups of Irish nationalists: theforces of the "ProvisionalGovernment" that established theFree State in December 1922, whosupported the Anglo-Irish Treaty,and the Republican opposition, forwhom the Treaty represented abetrayal of the Irish Republic. Thewar was won by the Free Stateforces.
National Army soldiersduring the Civil War
1948 - Irish Free State is granted fullindependence from Britain and formallybecomes the Republic of Ireland.
1967 –many the 19th C. anti-Catholic laws stillremain on the books as a result of the NorthernIreland parliament being dominated byProtestant unionists.
1968 – Duke Street March – a republicandemonstration is attacked by the police, knownas the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). RUCis comprised entirely of Protestants.
Many date the beginning of the Troubles withthis event.
1971-72: Internment and Bloody Sunday
Nearly 2,000 people are interned and heldwithout trial, in a bid to prevent furtherattacks on British troops. After internmentis introduced, in August 1971, violentprotests follow that leave 17 dead. Themove increases support for the IRA.
On Jan 30, 1972 British soldiers kill 14 andinjure 14 others during a civil rights marchin the Bogside area of Derry/Londonderryagainst internment in what will becomeknown as Bloody Sunday.
Thousands of people join the IRA. Amidincreasing violence, the Stormont Parliament(the Government of Northern Ireland) inBelfast is suspended and Northern Ireland isruled directly from London.
Mural by Bogside Artistsdepicting all who were killed byBritish soldiers
The 1980s: Hunger StrikesBobby Sands (IRA leader heldat the Maze prison) dies afterrefusing food for 66 days.
Nine others die of starvationbetween May 12 and August20 1981. Many believe them tobe martyrs to the struggle forindependence.
An est. 10,000 people attendBobby Sands' funeral. Supportfor Sinn Fein increases rapidly.
July 1997 - Ceasefire Restored
The IRA announces another ceasefire, allowing SinnFéin to join multi-party talks.
Talks are hindered by paramilitary killings on bothsides, but they continue until April 1998.
April 1998 - The Good Friday Agreement
An agreement on NI governance is finally reached.
It includes a devolved parliament and a role for theRepublic of Ireland in Northern Ireland affairs.
Many Unionists oppose the deal as giving too muchpower to Catholics.
A 'Yes' campaign poster for the Good FridayAgreement
GREEN = YES Scottish Devolution Referendum (1998)
RED = NO YES= 52%NO= 48%
YES1,617,98945%
NO2,001,92655%
ProfessorJohnston