History Qu.1 Full Answer

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Meghan Mooney

 Is there sufficient evidence in Sources D to J to explain why the Troubles broke out in Northern Ireland in 1969?

‘The Troubles’ refers to a period of violence that broke out in Northern Ireland, from 1968 to 1998. Sources D, E and G to an extent highlight how the discriminations against each religion have built up over time. Source D gives us a Catholic perspective, whilst sources E and G are in favour of Protestants. The other sources, F, H, I and J give us more of an insight into the short-term reasons for the Troubles. All of the sources provide an insight into the long-term problems that ‘The Troubles’ caused, and how they affected the attitudes of people generations down the line.

         Take source D, for example - B. Devlin describing her school days. This gives us some insight into prejudice teachings among the Catholics, but it does not illustrate the Protestant point of view. The source indicates that The Troubles are an ongoing problem, and stems from past events, for example, her school Vice Principal describes when “All her family had suffered at the hands of the British forces.” Devlin also explains how the Vice Principal’s beliefs were that Protestants weren’t hated, just viewed not to be Irish. This suggests that the Vice Principal (Mother Benignus) was extremely patriotic, and this could have influenced the children’s beliefs from an early age. The fact that the source was written in 1969, during the Troubles, could have had an effect on what Devlin was writing, as she was actually living through and experiencing the Troubles first hand. However, this source does not contain enough sufficient evidence to conclude why the Troubles broke out, as it does not show a Protestant view of the situation.

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          Sources D, E and G are views of the long term reasons, and how resentment and difference over time have built up, due to education systems reinforcing prejudices. The sources give us some perspective of each community over a long period of time. These educations remind both groups of events in their history where each suffered at the hands of the other, for example the Famine in the 1840’s and the rebellion as a result of Oliver Cromwell’s plantation.

         Source E is a cartoon drawn by a Protestant, which already indicates that ...

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