The Bitter Conflict in Northern Ireland
Out of all the conflicts that have occurred in Western Europe since the Second World War, Northern Ireland has been one of the most bitter, long lasting and intractable. This conflict is based in the struggle of one side of the community for a unified independent Ireland and the opposition of the other part of the community to this aim and their desire for Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom. Due to the hostility between these two sides issues of discrimination in areas such as housing, employment, electoral manipulations and religious histories have been rife. Northern Ireland is torn over the balance of power relations between communities and questions of governance.
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Although this is good news there are many areas of employment which are still inadequate and unmonitored. The Policy of Appraisal and Fair Treatment and Targeting Social Need initiatives were intended to be set up in the 90's to act as monitoring and job creation schemes. Neither of these reached the goals they were hoped to achieve. PAFT received no consideration and hopes for reparation for past discriminations came to nothing when its function became reduced to 'equality' and TSN was sidelined with no real aims. Neither monitor the religion or gender of staff.
The allocation of public housing has also been an area subject to accusations of discrimination. In the 1960's civil rights movements began in protest against the lack of civil and housing rights of the Catholics of Northern Ireland. In June 1966, a nationalist councillor Austin Currie squatted in a house in the Tyrone village of Caledon to oppose the treatment the Irish people were receiving. Though it was meant to be a peaceful protest there was a violent reaction. In 1969 The Cameron Report examined the causes of the civil disorders which started on 5 October 1968 in Londonderry. They found that the discrimination in the allocation of housing, together with lack of housing provision was among the main grievances of the Catholic population. At the time, housing was an important political issue, in addition to being of great socio-economic importance - sub-tenants were not given a vote in local
The Northern Ireland Assembly should be made up of 108 members being “elected from 18 constituencies” and having both an elected First Minister as well as a Deputy First Minister. While most issues are resolved via a common majority it is possible for members to subscribe a petition of concern which will lead to a decision being made via both a Unionist and a Nationalist assembly members’ majority. In addition to those, the assembly can decide on the legislation in Northern Ireland as long as it is within the limitations set by London. Furthermore, a Civic Forum should be introduced to deal with “social, economic and cultural” matters. Ultimately, “the principles of non-violence and democracy” must be upheld by all members.
In the early 1800s life in Ireland wasn’t easy, Irish citizens got by day to day by farming and relying on the potato. The potato was their main source of food and money. With out the potato the Irish would have nothing. No one was prepared for what was about to happen in 1845, the beginning of the Great Irish Potato Famine.
The Civil Rights Movement planned a march in Londonderry. British troops fired into the crowd and killed thirteen people! This day became famously known as 'Bloody Sunday'. After this, Northern Ireland lost its parliament.
England was in favor of landlords in Ireland due to a good majority of the landlords to be English and that their taxes were benefiting England. This causes bias in newspapers and articles about the landlord’s behaviors which is clearly seen in this article. Historians can read the article and decipher what it was like for these landlords and how much of the article is trying to persuade their readers one way or another especially since it was written by an Englishmen. It is important in understanding the New Departure’s goals and motivations for the Irishmen and the move towards freedom for Ireland. It shows how tenants are willing to fight back against the government which in turn fuels the fire for rebellions and ultimately moves the Home Rule party deeper into existence even with landlords doing everything they can to stay in
The start of the Irish’ peoples struggles began when the British came and destroyed their way of life. The Penal laws of 1691 stripped Irish Catholics of their freedoms by taking away their rights to become officers
Ireland has always had religious problems between, Pagans, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish people. Ireland has always been a place of interest in English eyes so Ireland was continually concord over and over by the English and the currency, traditions and religions changed with every English King, Queen or Irish Rebel. Between 1641 and 1691 Oliver Cromwell changed everything, Irish Catholics, Pagans and Jews were killed or shipped off to be slaves. The influence to immigrate was very strong, their options were to go to a new world of which they knew no one and had nothing, be killed for your religion, or be gathered up and shipped away as a slave. It was a hard decision they all were forced to
In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles, it relates to a complicated friendship of two young boys Gene and Phineas. Gene is jealous of Phineas’ achievements and lets his anger destroy their relationship. The boys at Devon in the summer of 1942 have to deal with the fear World War II brings. Each time the boys feel safe and peaceful, reality sets in and reminds them of the warfare around them. The boy’s mental stability is tested by the struggles of school and the causes of their actions. John Knowles’ A Separate Peace displays how fear, warfare, and friendship can affect a person’s innocence and youth.
On June 18, 1812, President Madison of the United States and Congress declared war on Great Britain. On June 25, the French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte led his army in Europe across the Nieman River into Russia.(1) Although these two events were thousands of kilometers apart they were directly connected to each other. To some extent, the Americans declared war in protest against measures that were part of Britain's effort to defeat Napoleon with the use of blockades. There are many interesting aspects to the War of 1812, including the fact of why it even happened. Britain and the United States had more reasons to remain friends than to start a war. The intent of this essay is to examine American and British objectives
The conflict in Northern Ireland has persisted because of religious affiliations, their identities and the struggle for overall power. The morals and identities of the people and organizations of Northern Ireland
The war between the republicans and the unionists in Dublin, Ireland gets pretty serious when you read the story (based on an autobiography), "The Sniper" written by Liam O'Flaherty. The republicans want Ireland to stay as a part of the United Kingdom while the unionists want Ireland to be its own country. Because of this war, many people die because of snipers in the army. In my opinion, the sniper can be considered and is a hero. It is because of the reasons he is fighting for, he kills an old lady and his brother,
By the late 1960’s economic recession on the mainland was affecting N. Ireland badly. Unemployment rose dramatically and the slum clearance stopped. By 1967 the ‘Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association’ (NICRA) was formed in the midst of growing discontent. Amongst other things they made the
Why the Irish Catholics and Protestants fought in Northern Ireland for centuries – the conflict started when Ireland was split into two parts, Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom) and the Republic of Ireland (an independent country). In the 16th century, Henry VII turned England in a protestant country, but most of the Irish remained Roman Catholic. James I sent thousands of protestant colonists to take over the Catholic people’s land. The Catholics rebelled but they were defeated by the middle of the 17th century. They were left without land nor power. The conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics have been going on for over 400 years. 50% of Northern Ireland consisted of Protestants, while 40% consisted of Catholics and both groups lived separately.
The Irish had suffered long before in the hands of the English when Cromwell had been in control and had taken away land held by the catholic majority of the country to members of the protestant minority. This created a large tension among the population with the oppressed majority and the rather entitled minority who by Trevelyan’s snooty tone did indeed see themselves as the superior people in the country. (Trevelyan’s tone is probably the most dismissive when in discussion of the Irish, mayhaps showing his own true dislike.) (Trevelyan, p. 116-
Introduction The independence of Scotland, a current affair and highly interesting topic. In this paper I will not be discussing the current political arrangements between Scotland and England nor will I be discussing what can be expected of the true separation of Scotland from the U.K. in the future. In this paper I will research what led up to the citizens of Scotland to feel so culturally different from the rest of the U.K. Why they do not want to be a completely united country anymore. I will look at the different aspects that define a country and its citizens. Look into the political system, language, border lines, history and traditions from both Scotland and England.
The Political System of Scotland Unlike Wales, which was subdued by conquest in the thirteenth century,