“The Troubles:” Conflict in Northern Ireland I. Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland II. Civil War, Partition and Conflict III. A Peace Process? The Troubles in Northern Ireland • One of the most intractable international issues facing modern history. • Class, race, religious identities in conflict. • Deep historical and generational roots. • U.S. has interests due to its Irish roots. Northern Ireland and Ireland Long History, Long Hatreds • 1170-1900: Increasing Protestant British colonialism and rule in primarily Catholic Ireland. • 1801: Act of Union. Ireland officially united with England. • 1845-1849: Irish Famine. 1 million die, 1.5 million emigrate. • 1858 Irish Republican Brotherhood forms to resist English and create a “Free Irish State” Religious Divisions in Northern Ireland Irish History • Irish History: The Famine, 1845-49 • Civil War, Partition and Conflict • Home Rule Bill for Ireland. Sinn Fein (political) • Prostestants in northern part of Ireland (Ulster) resist and form Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) • 1916: Easter Rising • 1918 Sinn Fein wins election and create own parliament • 1920: Black and Tan forces fight with Irish Volunteers. • 1920: British partitions Ireland into Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. • 1921: Anglo Irish Treaty formalizes partition • 1922-23: Civil War between North and South. Violence on both sides. Violence and Civil War Violence and Civil War Civil War Issues in the Northern Ireland Conflict Catholic Protestant • Want to unite with • Want to maintain separate Republic of Ireland in N. Ireland. south. • Unification with Republic • British government and will make Protestants a army continue colonial control. minority in a Catholic nation. • Catholic majority should have will. • British army protecting • Catholics live second class Protestants from terrorist existence in north. IRA. • Want to share in prosperity • Catholics can leave to go of the Republic. south Bloody Sunday and Beyond • 1939-67: Relative calm. • 1968: Protest violation of Civil Rights of Catholics. • Violence escalates on both sides • 1972: “Bloody Sunday.” • 1972: Direct British rule with army. • 1985 and 1996: Peace Plans. “The Troubles” Images “Bloody Sunday, 1972” Derry, NI I.R.A. I.R.A. Cycles of Violence Cycles of Violence “Parade Season” “Parade Season” The Troubles The Troubles West Belfast, 2004 Stormont Castle-NI Assembly Easter Accords, 1996.