Northern Ireland has had a volatile and tortured history. In 1969 began the conflict, which today is known as

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Ireland Coursework

Katy Foreman

Northern Ireland has had a volatile and tortured history. In 1969 began the conflict, which today is known as "The Troubles", but Northern Ireland's troubled history roots back to a much earlier period of time.

The seeds of partition were really sown in the mid 19th century when the notion of two separate nations took root in Ireland. The Young Ireland movement of the 1840's promoted a new racial ideology emphasising the Gaelic origins of Catholics. Protestants in Ulster bought into the idea of being Anglo-Saxon rather than Gaelic and laid claim to the virtues of thrift, hard work and respect for the law.

Towards the end of the 19th century the Gladstone government responded to demands in southern Ireland for Home Rule. Unionists believed a Home Rule parliament in Dublin run by Catholic farmers would be bad for Protestant businesses and by 1886 began to lobby for the predominantly Protestant northern counties. They believed Catholicism was an oppressive, backward religion and feared that Home Rule would result in Rome Rule. The House of Lords began to introduce Home Rule Bills, one in 1886 and the other in 1893.

Asquith's Liberal