Describe the disadvantages faced by Catholics in Northern Ireland in the mid-1960’s

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Coursework Assignment.

Civil Rights In Northern Ireland.

Describe the disadvantages faced by Catholics in Northern Ireland in the mid-1960’s

Since the partition of 1921 the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland had been unable to live on equal terms together. The tension steadily rose to a high in 1960’s. Catholic hopes for strong Unionist opposition hindered better conditions in their lives. The mainly protestant police saw a wave of violence through clashes which erupted badly in 1968. This was the start to all the troubles, which are still experienced today.

The police force, consisting of mainly Protestants, helped produce a very strong grip on power for the Unionists. There were roughly 6 Protestant policemen to every Catholic policeman so they really had no say in the force especially after the Special Powers Act was established in 1922. This Act was used against the IRA and made the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) even more powerful. The Act allowed the group to do almost anything in an emergency, and the RUC could already impose curfews, keep people in prison without giving them a fair trail, ban any marches and demonstrations which where planed, censor the press and they could even search any home without a warrant. There were also 10,000 B Specials to back up the RUC. They were not only violent but also often beat up Catholics. There is even a picture of a peaceful demonstrator being struck by RUC officers at the civil rights rally.

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The Catholics were not just discriminated against in the police force, for even churches blocked attempts to create a non-religious state education system in both the 1920’s and then again in the 1940’s. This was still largely segregated in the 1960’s although there were a few mixed colleges and universities where educated people met from other communities. But this only catered from the small minority, most of the people being middle class citizens. There were less opportunities and hardly any funding in the Catholic schools and this set an example to the children who are raised playing different sports to ...

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