Ireland Coursework - Natinalists vs unionists

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Zain Rafiq                                                                                                            

Nationalists vs. unionists

There are many differences between the nationalists and the unionists. Unionists are mostly Protestants and mainly live in Northern Ireland. The Nationalists are mainly catholic however a small minority of them aren’t. Nationalists live in the republic of Ireland but there are some who live in Northern Ireland.

The nationalists see themselves as Irish rather than British. They see the island if Ireland as one place and want it united as one state. They don’t want to have any links with the UK. They want there own government and want to rule Ireland as one. On the other hand the unionists don’t want Ireland to be united as one state because they believe that if Ireland has links with the UK then it will be good for them economically.

The main nationalist parties are the SDLP (social and democratic labour party) and Sinn Fein. The SDLP uses totally peaceful methods in achieving their aims. However Sinn Fein has strong links with the IRA which uses violence and bloodshed to achieve their aims.

The Ulster Unionist Party is the main party representing unionist views. It uses peaceful method to achieve its aims.

The nationalists and the unionists disagree with each other.  However there are some differences within the nationalists and the unionists. For example democratic nationalists don’t mind having links with the UK but still want to have equal rights in Northern Ireland. They don’t want to be treated unfairly. The other half of the nationalists who are republicans want no link with the UK at all. They want to be totally separated. Another difference within the nationalists is the SDLP who want to use peaceful methods of achieving their aims and the IRA and INLA who use violence.

There are differences within the unionists. One difference is that the Ulster Unionist Party uses non violence and peaceful methods to achieve its aims whereas the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force use violence, bombs and scare tactics to achieve their aims. This shows that there are differences within the nationalists and the unionists.

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Bloody Sunday is an event that has been important in shaping the views of the Republicans/Nationalists/Catholics.

Internment was a problem in Ireland. A lot of disagreements were caused by internment. Internment meant that Northern Ireland had special powers that if anyone was suspected of terrorism, they would be put in jail on suspicion of terrorism. This was an attempt to cripple the IRA but it actually boosted their support. Only the nationalists/republicans were put in jail and they were very unhappy about it.

On Sunday 30th January 1972 there was a huge protest march against internment in Londonderry. ...

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