The Troubles

Summary:

• Ran from 1968 to 1998.
• Between Protestant unionists (those who wished to remain part of the UK) and Roman Catholic nationalists (those who wanted Northern Ireland to become part of the Republic of Ireland).
• 3600 people were killed and 30000 injured.

Background:

• Could have stemmed from the 12th Century Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, as many British landowners displaced Irish landowners.
• The Protestant ascendancy of the 18th Century created division between Catholics and Protestants.
• In 1801 the Act of Union united Great Britain and Ireland. It was opposed by the Irish Parliament and was highly controversial as the British government bought votes to secure a majority. (The union ended in 1922).
• Then in 1870, the Home Rule movement campaigned for self-government for Ireland within Great Britain.
• There was an Irish civil war from 1919 to 1921, between the IRA and the British army. Northern Ireland remained in the UK but the Republic of Ireland became independent.
• When Northern Ireland began functioning as a self-governing part of the UK, 2/3 of it's population was Protestant, and about 1/3 was Catholic. This led to discrimination and a lack of Catholic representation.
• The main catalystic event was in 1968, when the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association…