Conflicts in Northern Ireland

It seems that all, throughout history, Protestants and Catholics are always butting heads. Tensions were particularly high between Ireland and Britain with Ireland being Catholic and Britain Protestant. This religious discrepancy had a real effect on the Irish people, interfering with their Catholic tradition. The Irish people had longed for independence from the British for a long time; but, Britain really managed to agitate the Irish when they sent settlers from Britain and Scotland to settle in Northern Ireland. This agitation eventually grew into the Northern Ireland War, as the Protestants began to take control.

The Pope at the time, Pope Innocent III, also had a small feud with King John. The Pope soon excommunicated him. His reputation soon became tainted, and many of the Barons of England became upset and wanted to restrict his power and ensure their rights. After the dispute with Pope Innocent III, King John promised the Pope that he would follow through with the Pope's wishes, and the Pope very quickly “de- excommunicated” him. Soon after, King John went back to battle against France and needed the money from his vassals, the Barons.

They soon became seen as the villains in all of this. In my opinion, Bloody Sunday had the most important consequences. It caused a lot of violence, deaths and injuries. More so than the Easter rising and the British troops in Belfast. It played a strong role in the history of the conflict in Ireland.

Religion is a problems because throughout history there have been rivalries between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. Paramilitaries are a problem because they have a huge amount of control. Difference of opinions between people is a problem because it has been difficult to keep everyone happy. Extremists, to justify their actions, often refer to history. Politics has been a problem because there has not always been a balance of power between people of different opinions.

These rebellions had little support for the ordinary Irish people and it had a bad effect on the Irish parliament whom had to sit later in the Bri... ... middle of paper ... ...of the biggest factors which separate the two communities. Religion is one of several reasons why the two groups see themselves as being different from each other and are suspicious of each other. King Henry broke with Rome in 1530s when the Pope had refused to grant him a divorce from his first wife, hence he declared him self to be ‘Supreme Head’ on Earth of the whole Church of Ireland. He also took charge of the Church in England and Ireland. Since then, more Protestant ideas were introduced and the Catholic service of the Mass was banned in Ireland.

During his reign as king, France participated in several wars including the War of Devolution, in Anglo-Dutch War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. Another major action he took was the proclamation of the Edict of Fontainebleau, which revoked the Edict of Nantes, imposing religious uniformity through Catholi... ... middle of paper ... ...roblems and turned a great number of people against the monarchy. These events lead to the resentment that was another key factor in beginning the French Revolution. The end of King Louis XIV’s rule was especially disastrous. After the death of his advisor Colbert, King Louis XIV made even more horrible and costly decisions.

He was resented by the Catholics, because he was a protestant. To be more precise, he was an Arminian, which was a sector from the protestant side of Christianity. On the other side of the spectrum, he is resented by the puritans, as they see him as too close in his religious views to Catholicism. Furthermore, he is disliked by the puritans as he put restrictions on their preaching and themselves. The puritans were a well organised opposition to Personal rule.

In Europe at the time, there were many ideas which were causing friction. Nationalism, which was the desire for a country was causing friction because people in old empires sought to be free. The leaders of these people would not be happy and a war would definitely break out. If they became free they would also need to take land from someone else and this again may cause a war and usually did. Another idea which was contributing to the shifts of power in Europe was Militarism.

During the sixteenth century there was a lot of rivalry between the Catholic Church and Protestants and when King Henry VIII broke away from the Pope and became Protestant, Ireland remained strongly Catholic. This caused conflict as in 1602 Elizabeth I gained control of Ireland. In 1603 King James I planted Protestants in a region of Ireland called Ulster. Various massacres took place, Protestants remember the massacre of Protestant settlers by Irish Catholics in 1641 and Catholics remember the massacre of Catholics troops by Protestant troops in 1649, although these are different events they were both used against the other side, and any fault of their own side was justified, this increases tension between the two and validates hatred. Generally the people in Ulster remained strong to the English crown, these are called Unionists and wanted to stay part of the United Kingdom.

Ireland, fed up with the Britain’s appalling leadership, asked for division from the United Kingdom. An obvious disagreement stirred up tension which led to multiple rebellions like Easter Rising. Continuous struggles for freedom built passion and nationalism for the Irish people. With all the past turmoil building up, Ireland commenced a war for their freedom. Although an often forgotten war, The Irish War of Independence resulted in rebellions, bloodbaths, and a major split in a nation.