Another short-term effect would be the fact that the media had twisted the story in many different ways, just to get more interest, but after a while the real truth becomes apparent. This would have made peoples views change and more things are stirred up in people’s views. At this time there was also a lot of sympathy for the Nationalist but no sympathy is going to last forever, is it? Especially if violence is rampant. But the fact the Nationalist could and would stand up for their beliefs would always be resting on someone’s mind and maybe worry about what they may do next.
When Padraig Pearse and James Connolly were executed, they were seen as martyrs to the entire Nationalist community, (it was like they were almost Jesus!) Kids, adults and teenagers would look up to them wanting to be remembered in such away because of what they believe in. This has left a long-term effect on the Nationalist community, with kids resorting to violence to get their anger and hatred across, started from such a young age. The presence of the British army has also left a long term effect, as they were seen in a bad light and they will always be related to the mistakes they made on Easter Sunday, after this recruitment into the British Army slowed down as a result.
I believe the overall impact of the Easter Rising would have been long term as it brought out many people into a different light, labelling them to be maybe bad or even good. People’s views were changed maybe forever. As the Army got a bad reputation therefore many people didn’t trust them anymore, for a single mistake! Pearse and Connolly being seen, as heroes will encourage people from a very young age to get involved in things that they believe in, violent or not.
The Deployment of British Troops in Ireland
There are plenty of things that have encouraged the deployment of troops, building up of decades, problems that local police forces cannot handle. I think that the deployment of troops was inevitable there was no way of avoiding it, because of many things starting right from the 20’s. In December 1920 a parliamentary committee prepared a bill, which became law as the Government of Ireland Act. The Act partitioned Ireland into Southern Ireland with a parliament in Dublin, and Northern Ireland with a parliament in Belfast. There was minority of Catholics because of the parting of Northern Ireland. This made them feel very isolated; also jobs were hard to come by. Segregation became a part of life, after a while Unionist and Nationalists would go to separate pubs, churches and education was also separated. This had the effect of building tension between these two groups of people. During the 1920’s and 30’s segregation discrimination and distrust were very prevalent throughout the whole of Northern Ireland and almost everyone was touched by the conflict.
The Welfare State had tried to tackle the problems of housing and health in the 1940’s also education reforms improved for both nationalists and unionists. The IRA stopped its terrorist campaign; this gave them the name ‘I Ran Away’. They lost support and upset many the Catholics felt abandoned. But then in 1968 civil rights movement campaigns began against discrimination, working class people resented these as they were poor and faced hardship, in January 1969 militants within the civil rights movement held more protests.
In 1969 the British police were called to settle a riot, which had broken out in the predominantly catholic area of the Bogside. Days earlier an illegal march organised by the apprentice boys had cut through this area and led to an outbreak of violence that could not be contained by the RUC. They were forced to call on the British for assistance and 2 days after the rioting had begun the British deployed troops into Northern Ireland in an attempt to stop the rioting. They were successful and in the afternoon of the 14th August the Battle of the Bogside ended.
The British troops were welcomed at first most Catholics were incredibly happy at their arrival, giving the whole community a sense of joy everything became a little more upbeat. The initial felling was good, but this was a short term response as soon after this ended thanks to the falls road curfew.
I think the curfew was a long term impact. It had an immediate negative effect on the popularity of the once loved and welcomed troops. The troops had been left with all political power, and when four protestants were shot dead they sent the troops in. They held Falls road under curfew for 35 hours, many people went without food or water. They felt mistreated. It was propaganda for the Provisionals. I think this event cause the most problems and had the biggest impact. Many innocent people were effected by this event. This also changed their view on the situation. Being searched, accused of having IRA weapons and held under curfew, this was going to upset many people.
There was peace for a while but there slowly became more violence. There was growing violence between the British army and the new recently emerged Provisional IRA. It was within only months of the troops arriving that the IRA had become newly formed, armed and ready for action. After the Falls road curfew they now had justification.
The Provisional IRAs new formation was done easily as many felt under pressure to join. Catholic girls who dated a British solider would be disowned. Money flooded in from America from sympathisers people felt sorry for these Catholics who had there lives ruined. But this just gave them more of an edge. Money to buy new weapons, recruit more people get better training. Basically more money equals more bombs.
Bloody Sunday
It has been hard to assign blame to anyone at this event, as it hasn’t become clear and may never be known if there was a first shot. From the IRA or anyone else aiming to cause a problem. It was Sunday 30 January 1972, and in Londonderry there was a huge peaceful protest to being held against internment. Troops of the Parachute Regiment sealed of the area, but they were met by stones hurled at them, the soldiers claim to have been fired at, they followed and returned fire. In the end 13 marchers were shot dead. Supposedly not one of them was armed. Lord Widgery headed the inquiry, he criticised the troops of being to reckless. From the side of the troops they believed IRA gunmen shot them at first. It has been an on going problem even up to 1998 when Tony Blair announced a new inquiry into it. Bloody Sunday was a horrific event for those involved, and it is very important on how it has affected people’s views and attitude toward the British troops. It created strength for the Republicans views, it gathered them huge amounts of support from over seas. They believed they could no longer defend their communities the IRA had to get the British out of Ireland.
Many of the short term events of Bloody Sunday have had a domino effect leading to a long term effect, causing more problems. After Bloody Sunday there was a huge increase in support for the IRA from abroad, especially America. Many were outraged by what had happened. Money was sent over and the IRA were able to buy weapons. This enabled them to fight back with bombs.
Bloody Sunday was also a propaganda victory for them as people killed were seen as martyrs. Worship made people once again follow the same way. maybe just support or even joining the IRA.
When Bernadette Devlin a peace activist punched the home secretary in the face this gave off a feeling of violence. Then on February 22nd there was a bomb attack on Aldershot HQ of the 16th Parachute brigade. Then throughout February and March there was a series of bombs attacks on Derry and Dublin.
After the violence escalated in February and March Edward Heath, the British prime minister decided there was no other way to try and control the situation but to put Northern Ireland under Direct Control. This meant that N.I no longer had a parliament and all the decisions were made from Westminster. The fall of Stormont was welcomed by the Catholics but the IRA saw the direct rule as further evidence that Britain intended not to leave. This also made the British government a larger target for additional attacks.
The Widgery Report was released in April 1972, it cleared all the paras of doing anything wrong. The paras account on Bloody Sunday was taken as the official report and it said they were acting in self defence. This was seen as a cover up by many people.
IRA violence had now been targeted on British soil, there had been several attacks in England. The IRA violence also sparked off retaliation for unionists. IN September 1971 The Ulster Defence Association had been formed. Then during the 70’s and 80’s the UDA and others responded to republican violence by killing IRA Sinn Fein activists and innocent Catholics. This has now brought the violence to Britain and this will worry British people, and but more pressure on the government. Westminster is also directly affected.
I believe out of each of these events that Bloody Sunday had the largest impact on the conflict in Ireland. This is because it lead to many peace initiatives which have therefore helped move the peace process forward.
I don’t believe the others were as important as they didn’t bring as much emphasis on bring peace and helping Northern Ireland forward. Pearse and Connolly's actions during the Easter rising had lead to many more people get involved in the situation. I do think that the deployment of British troops had the biggest negative effect as during the falls road incident many people had felt mistreated. Most of them innocent had been accused of being in possession of IRA weapons. By this it will have changed views of many people.