North Ireland Conflict

The next two centuries, differences between Protestants and Catholics increased. The Irish monarchy, parliament and government based in Dublin, enforced several new laws against Catholics. In 1801, in an attempt to increase the direct control of Ireland, the Irish government were abolished and it’s responsibilities taken over by England. During the 19th century several movements tried overthrowing the new government. Some using legal measures and some uses physical force to achieve their goal.

As the years went on, the Irish people fought for a Home Rule bill to pass through their parliament. But, repeatedly the bill was struck down. Eventually a group of Irish Republicans had enough of British rule in Ireland and mounted a rebellion. The rebellion was not only caused by because of the British failur... ... middle of paper ... ...tion.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/12-13-14/41 (accessed March 17, 2014). Irish Republican Army.

The Home Rule Bills provided a dual-bodied legislature strictly for local matters and Irish representation at Westminster to vote on Irish taxation. According to Taylor "It threatened to frustrate those (British) completely in that it provided for a separate Irish parliament and an end to Irish representation in Westminster" (Taylor 772). This led way to views of republicans and revolutionaries after each bill was defeated. Home Rule had a huge effect on Irish society and Irish politics to which Ireland is shaped today. The Gaelic Revival was an attempt to re-introduce old Gaelic traditions to the Irish people.

After the War Of Independence, in 1919, the country of Ireland was divided into two parts; The North, here there was a large Protestant Majority, each of the six Ulster counties had their own parliament and their own government. The South, largely occupied by Irish Catholics, most opposed the idea of dividing Ireland. But in 1921 a group of Sinn Fein, and IRA members signed an treaty with the British, accepting the division of Ireland. This was when what's known as 'Northern Ireland' was created, dominated by Protestants. However, Catholics had wanted a united and Independent Ireland, so resentment grew.

British- Irish relations over the past three hundred years have been troubled. There have been many tensions caused by religion in Northern Ireland and Britain's unfair rule of Northern Ireland. The British are guilty of many of the indignities suffered by the Irish people. They are also guilty of causing all of the religious and territorial conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. The division between Northern and Southern Ireland dates back to the 16th century.

Keeping Control in Ireland There are two communities in Northern Ireland, Catholic and Protestant. Back in the 1500's all of the Irish people were Catholic but towards the late 1500's English Protestant rulers decided to take over Ireland. In order to keep control they put people in Ireland. This is called plantation. The people who were 'planted' were Protestants.

After Partition, Catholics found that they were in the minority in the Protestant controlled North. From 1922 Catholics were on the receiving end of discrimination against them, increasing numbers of civil rights marches. By 1960s tension is on both sides, violence escalated, leading to the British Troops being sent in. The reason in why the British got involved is due to a long-term history as well as short term. Ireland has always been a catholic country, but Henry 8th, Elizabeth 1 and James 1, sent Protestant settlers to Ireland, Plantation.

Conflict in Ireland Text Box: Ireland is to the west of Britain and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea. Today Ireland is divided into two parts, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In 1921 the partition treaty was signed and was originally supposed to be temporary, it was an attempt to bring peace to Ireland. Currently there are mainly Unionists (Protestants) living in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland there are mainly Nationalists (Catholics) living in Northern Ireland. The unionists want to be governed by England's parliament however; the Nationalists in Northern Ireland do not.

On the 13th August 1969Jack Lynch, the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic, made a speech on National Television criticising the Northern Ireland Government. This Speech caused Harold Wilson to send members of the British Army over to the streets of Ireland to restore order. The long term causes of the problems between the Catholics and Protestants of Northern Ireland are rooted in the histories of England and Ireland. Since the 12th Century and the invasion of Henry 2nd in Ireland. Where English settlers were given land that belonged to the conquered Irish.

After 1500 the English took control for the first time by way of force due to the Irish being loyal to Catholicism and the English were strong protestants. The soldiers drove farmers off their land. The protestants were strongest in Northern Ireland, Ulster. The Irish made a rebellion but this was crushed at the battle of Boyne, many laws were passed to keep the Catholics quiet. Even up to 1914 the Irish were unwilling to accept English domination.