This source is not reliable as it is a very exaggerated piece of Protestant propaganda. Aimed to make Protestants more cautious towards Catholics. ‘English Protestants stripped naked and turned into mountains in frost and snow.’ We know that there was a rebellion that day but events are widely exaggerated. Although it must be stressed propaganda was not only a Protestant tool, Catholics did the same with Oliver Cromwell’s massacre in Wexford and Dundalk in 1649.
This source on the plantation cannot directly be associated with the 1969 troubles. As there have been many examples of Catholics and Protestant since 1641. The leader behind the Irish home rule party Isaac Butt was a Protestant but instances like the 1641 rebellion can be used to fuel peoples fears.
Source E is a Protestant cartoon relating to the home rule issue of the 19th century. It highlights all Protestant and Unionist fears if home rule were to be implemented. Religious, they feared that the Catholic Church would have total control over Ireland. Shown by Catholic priest bounding Ireland in robes. They feared economically that the economy would suffer. Shown by old thatched houses indicating poverty. They also feared all links would be cut with British Empire. The Ulster economy was mainly based on ship and steelworks. While that of the south was mainly agricultural.
Source not reliable as again drawn up from the Protestant perspective. Propaganda played on fears of Protestant working class who feared that under home rule Catholics would rule. It does have sufficient evidence alone to be seen as the cause of the troubles but relates to long-term causes of the troubles.
Source I is a map of gerrymandering in 1966 Derry. The majority 70% of Derry was and yet it had a Unionist Dominated council. This was because the boundaries were withdrawn so that the majority of Catholics would be squeezed into the South-ward leaving way for Unionists to dominate the other two wards. This was because there was more Protestant than Catholic boundary commissioners as many Catholics refused. Only householders got a vote so this led to a situation were single Protestants were given a house before a Catholic family. This reinforces the Protestant fear and mistrust of Catholics. They believed Catholics were constantly trying to overthrow the Northern Ireland state. The council allocated 66% of houses to Protestants. Keeping the Catholic population politically quiet.
However Nationalists did the same when given the chance in Newry. In 1960 this led to middle class Catholics educated under the 1947 education act. Which made education free for all set up the civil rights movement. They organised mass rallies against gerrymandering. This was a direct cause of the troubles.
Source D shows a Catholic woman describing her school days. She talks of the school giving selective history lessons leaning towards the Nationalist community with different textbooks to that of Unionist schools. This source shows there was also segregation in area such as education. Segregation also passed onto sports the now defunct GAA rule 21 a chief example.
Bernadette Devlin who wrote the source was a key player in civil rights movement was brought up in this education system. A source of great bias the school’s vice principal disliked the British. Resulting in an atmosphere of prejudice, discrimination and separation. Fears taken in by extremists. This a long tem cause of the troubles but lacks sufficient evidence.
Source H shows RUC attacking a civil rights marcher highlighting police brutality. It underlines the forces mistreatment of civil rights marchers when they are supposed to be impartial. Can be linked with source E showing Unionist mistrust. This is the main cause of the troubles a one-sided police force. RTE beamed pictures worldwide showing Northern Ireland as an oppressive state.
The source does not show why the march took place at the start and police force does not represent all the Protestant people. Are that the PD was a militant movement, which deliberately marched through Protestant areas pushing for reform.
Source I shows a loyalist crowd ambushing civil rights marchers at Burntollet in 1969. This was during a civil rights march from Belfast to Derry in January 1969. It reinforces what has been included in many of the sources, the Unionist fear of Catholics. They were furious at civil rights marches taking place so close to their areas. They had an RUC escort but they just looked on as the marchers were stoned and beaten. Once again the reputation of the RUC and B-specials had taken another battering.
Though no source is 100% accurate and this one is no different. It does not show that events such as this made Catholics isolated and feel that they needed a force of their own as their only form of protection. It was this that created an atmosphere of violence and a vulnerable Nationalist population. Which led to the re-emergence of the IRA as a dominant force in the 30 year long troubles from 1969. This was direct cause of the troubles, as Nationalists were not treated equally.
All these sources together are very useful as they a background as to why the troubles began and lasted so long. This was mainly due to unionist fear and mistrust towards Catholics. Building an atmosphere of distrust and sectarianism. Which a minority in each community preached. Using such methods as propaganda to back their views up. Which passed on through generation to generation.
