
Internationally, NI is probably best known as the site of a violent ethnic,
sectarian, nationalist, and political conflict – the Troubles – between the
nationalists, who see themselves as primarily Irish and are predominately
Roman Catholic, and the
 unionists, who consider themselves primarily British and are
predominately Protestant

 (additionally, there are people from both sides who identify with more extreme
positions)
Simply put, the unionists want NI to remain as part of the UK (“loyalist” is
a term used to identify as an extreme unionist), while the nationalists
want NI to reunify with the Republic of Ireland, independent of British
rule (“republican” is a term used to identify as an extreme nationalist)
 Since 1998, all of the paramilitary groups involved in the Troubles (e.g. IRA
and UVF) have ceased their armed campaigns.

A Brief History of the Troubles: Early 1600s
•The
Plantation of Ulster refers
to the colonization of Ulster – a
province in northern Ireland– by
Protestants from Scotland and
England.
•Private plantation by wealthy
landowners began in 1606, while
officially sanctioned by James I in
1609.
•All lands owned by Irish chieftains in
Ulster (along with those of their
supporters) were confiscated and
used to settle the colonists.
The counties of Ulster (modern
boundaries) that were colonized
during the plantation era - shaded
area

1688 – William of Orange



British Protestants “invite” William
of Orange, a Protestant prince from
the Netherlands, to rule England
and Scotland.
When he arrives in Britain James II the ruling Catholic king - is deposed
and flees to Ireland.
In 1690 William defeats James at the
Battle of the Boyne.
 after battle the Irish Protestants who
fought alongside William are known as
Orangemen. The battle is commemorated
every July 12 with Orange marches in
many cities in Northern Ireland.
Battle of the Boyne (12 July 1690)

1690 – a system of Protestant English rule is
imposed which is designed to materially
disadvantage the Catholic majority and Protestant
dissenters


1801 – Act of Union



This system was extended again during the 18th C. and
parts of it continued up to 1998.
the entire island of Ireland becomes part of UK
1905 – Sinn Féin political party is established by
Catholics with the intention of freeing Ireland from
British rule
1913 – Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) a paramilitary
group created by Protestants who oppose the
concept of Irish Home Rule.

1916 – The Easter Uprising
Political and sectarian conflict over whether Ireland
should remain part of the UK culminates in the
Easter Uprising, when Irish Catholics seize strategic
buildings in Dublin, notably the general post office.
 An est. 20,000 British soldiers enter the city and fire
on the rebels. The fighting lasts for five days and the
rebels are forced to surrender. Seventy are
sentenced to death and 15 are executed, fuelling
support for Sinn Féin – the political party
representing the nationalist cause.
 Catholic rebels become known as the Irish
Republican Army (IRA).





1919-1922 – War of Independence & the
Partitioning of the Ireland
Following the Easter Up-Rising, Sinn Féin won a
majority of seats in Ireland and set up the First Irish
Parliament in Dublin.
Ireland declares its secession from the UK. The Irish
War for Independence followed, leading to the
establishment of the Irish Free State.
In Ulster, however, and particularly in the six
counties which became as Northern Ireland, Sinn
Féin fared poorly in the 1918 election, and
Unionists won a strong majority.


The Government of Ireland Act 1920 partitioned the
island of Ireland into two separate jurisdictions,
Southern Ireland (comprising the 26 southern
counties – each with a Catholic majority) and
Northern Ireland (comprising the 6 Ulster counties –
each with a Protestant majority), both as devolved
regions of the United Kingdom.
This partition of Ireland was confirmed when the
Parliament of Northern Ireland exercised its right in
December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921
to opt out of the newly established Irish Free State.
 Violence escalates as Catholics oppose partition.


The Anglo-Irish Treaty, 1921 provided for a selfgoverning Irish state in the south, having its own
army and police.
However, rather than creating the independent
republic, which was favored by nationalists, the
Irish Free State would be an “autonomous
dominion of the British Empire” with the British
monarch as head of state, in the same manner as
Canada and Australia.
Michael Collins was an
Irish revolutionary leader,
Director of the Irish
delegation during the
Anglo-Irish Treaty
negotiations. Subsequently,
he was Chairman of the
Provisional Government
until his death during the
Irish Civil War. His
“compromise” on Northern
Ireland not being
immediately included in
the Anglo-Irish Treaty is
still viewed by many in
Northern Ireland as selling
them out.

1922-26 - The Irish Civil War
waged between two opposing
groups of Irish nationalists: the
forces of the "Provisional
Government" that established the
Free State in December 1922, who
supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty,
and the Republican opposition, for
whom the Treaty represented a
betrayal of the Irish Republic. The
war was won by the Free State
forces.
National Army soldiers
during the Civil War

1948 - Irish Free State is granted full
independence from Britain and formally
becomes the Republic of Ireland.



1967 –many the 19th C. anti-Catholic laws still
remain on the books as a result of the Northern
Ireland parliament being dominated by
Protestant unionists.
1968 – Duke Street March – a republican
demonstration is attacked by the police, known
as the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). RUC
is comprised entirely of Protestants.
Many date the beginning of the Troubles with
this event.

1971-72: Internment and Bloody Sunday
Nearly 2,000 people are interned and held
without trial, in a bid to prevent further
attacks on British troops. After internment
is introduced, in August 1971, violent
protests follow that leave 17 dead. The
move increases support for the IRA.
 On Jan 30, 1972 British soldiers kill 14 and
injure 14 others during a civil rights march
in the Bogside area of Derry/Londonderry
against internment in what will become
known as Bloody Sunday.

 Thousands of people join the IRA. Amid
increasing violence, the Stormont Parliament
(the Government of Northern Ireland) in
Belfast is suspended and Northern Ireland is
ruled directly from London.
Mural by Bogside Artists
depicting all who were killed by
British soldiers



The 1980s: Hunger Strikes
Bobby Sands (IRA leader held
at the Maze prison) dies after
refusing food for 66 days.
Nine others die of starvation
between May 12 and August
20 1981. Many believe them to
be martyrs to the struggle for
independence.
An est. 10,000 people attend
Bobby Sands' funeral. Support
for Sinn Fein increases rapidly.

July 1997 - Ceasefire Restored



The IRA announces another ceasefire, allowing Sinn
Féin to join multi-party talks.
Talks are hindered by paramilitary killings on both
sides, but they continue until April 1998.
April 1998 - The Good Friday Agreement



An agreement on NI governance is finally reached.
It includes a devolved parliament and a role for the
Republic of Ireland in Northern Ireland affairs.
Many Unionists oppose the deal as giving too much
power to Catholics.
A 'Yes' campaign poster for the Good Friday
Agreement
GREEN = YES
RED =
NO
Scottish Devolution Referendum (1998)
YES= 52%
NO= 48%


YES
NO
Professor
Johnston
1,617,989
2,001,926
45%
55%