Nowadays I believe that the situation in Northern Ireland is beginning to improve. Although there is still discrimination (this time on both parts), the country is finally starting to realise that the only way they are going to resolve their differences is by the power of speech and not violence. I believe that in the next few years, the situation in Northern Ireland will continue to improve. Already there is a school run by both Protestants and Catholics, which clearly indicates to me that the countries unfairness is disappearing with the help of those who are open-minded.
Question 2:
How did Protestants politicians explain the social, economic and political differences between Catholic and Protestant?
Catholics were treated differently for numerous reasons. The main reason was because of their religion and beliefs. The Roman Catholic Church was controlled and influenced by the Pope. Many Protestants did not agree with the teachings and ethics of the Roman Catholic Church, and resorted to discriminating against those who did. Roy Gillespie, (A DUP councillor), was a man that did not agree with the morals of the Roman Catholic Church. He was under the impression that 'The Roman Catholic Church was out to destroy Protestantism,' and set out to make the life of Catholics extremely difficult.
Ian Paisley was a man that agreed with Roy Gillespie theory. He believed that it was adequate to treat Catholics differently because their loyalties were with the Pope in the Republic and not in Northern Ireland.
The Roman Catholic Church was an exceptionally powerful institution, often seen as very domineering. Protestants were afraid of the Catholics gaining power and resorted to treating them dreadfully, as they believed that if they were to treat Catholics equally, they would ultimately loose control over civilization. For example, contraception would be non-existent, as well as abortion, and all schools would have to stick to the same rules Catholic schools did. Protestants did not want this to happen, and resorted to discriminating in order to protect their own principles and pride.
The preponderance of politicians were Protestant, consequently they were the ones with major control over the way the country was being run. Protestants therefore had the right to treat Catholics differently. Protestant politician Basil Brooke attempted to validate the bad treatment towards Catholics, by saying; "How can you give somebody who is your enemy, a higher position, in order to allow him to come out and destroy you." Hs words confirmed what he (and most Protestants) was scared of. The Protestants were terrified of Catholics gaining control over Northern Ireland, and limited their political power in order to help avoid the situation.
Protestant believed that the bulk of Catholics were indolent and reluctant to work, and believed that because of this they should be entitled to better employment opportunities which could in turn result in a wealthier financial system and a enhanced social environment.
Many Catholic supporters such as Terence O'Neil disagreed with this and attempted to explain that if you give Catholic's the same opportunities as Protestants they will work just as hard. Catholics often found it difficult to get job, as many employers were Protestant and were influenced by the 'Choose Protestant employees over Catholic ones' policy; on top of the fact they were seen as indolent.
Others argue that despite Protestant and domination there is no difference between communities. Many people believe that equal opportunities exist, and that it is the Protestants that make better opportunities for social and economic progress. These people argue that there are Catholics families out there that are successful because they have gone out to look for the opportunities instead of complaining about the political process.
There were numerous reasons which contributed to Catholics receiving inequitable treatment, the main one being authority and government. Protestants feared that if the Catholics gained anymore jurisdiction, Northern Ireland could be utterly destroyed.
Question 3:
Why were British Troops sent to Northern Ireland?
British Troops were sent to Northern Ireland because of the increased amount of violence and fear that this violence would spread to further provinces. Riots started to break out in Northern Ireland because police lost control; this was because from the beginning, Catholics in Northern Ireland were a disadvantaged minority in matters of employment, housing, education, and cultural and political participation.
In 1968 a civil rights movement emerged to protest against economic and political discrimination, often provoking violent reactions within the Protestant community. The escalation was triggered by the so-called “Bloody Sunday” in 1971, when the British soldiers fired at a Catholic rally, leaving 13 dead and many more wounded. Paramilitaries on both sides embarked on a bitter guerrilla war attacking civilians and security forces alike. Catholics were greatly influenced by Dr Martin Luther King, and the American Civil Rights Movements, which were going on at about the same time.
The long-term causes of the problems between the Catholics and Protestant of Northern Ireland are rooted in the histories of England and Ireland. In the 12th century, English settlers were given land that belonged to the conquered Irish. These settles had more power and privileges than the native Irish. From this time until the act of union in 1800 England and Ireland were frequently at war with one another. Further confiscations of land took place by James 1st in 1601 and then by Oliver Cromwell in 1640’s, making the Irish very angry and anti – British.
Many Protestants suffered, but it was the Catholics who were most under threat. They were outnumbered by approximately two to one. When Nationalist created disturbance in the province, it was the Catholics of Belfast who faced violence, burnings, beatings and shootings. In one night 6 people died, 12 factories were burned down and 100 houses were wreck.
The RUC and B-Specials (part timed armed police constables) were considered to be anti-Catholic. This was because they had a reputation for harassing Catholics and using violence chaotically. An example of this uncontrollable violence was when a 9-year-old boy was killed in an accident whilst the RUC was dealing with an incident. This clearly caused the tension between the Protestants and Catholics to get worse.
The RUC were known to help loyalist mobs tear down Catholic barricades and attack Catholic homes. This caused the British Troops to be sent in because the Catholic population
Had lost faith in the RUC and B-Specials.
More British troops were brought to the Province but the parliament in Belfast proved unable to handle the situation. In 1973, Parliament was dissolved and the Province was brought under direct rule from Westminster again. Ever since, Northern Ireland has been directly governed by Westminster and the Unionist MP's from Northern Ireland became critically important for the Conservative governments in the 1980s and 90s.
Protestants also had fears that they would have to share their economy with the rest of Ireland. They were scared that the Roman Catholic Church would interfere in the running of the country. They were also threatened with violence by the IRA to become a part of the republic of Ireland.
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Still today people march to celebrate The Orange Order, which came about after James II was thrown out of England in 1690’s and fled to Ireland where he rose an army to attack the Protestants in Londonderry, but the new king William of Orange defeated James at the Battle of the Bogside. The Orange Order marches are a constant reminder of the division between the Roman Catholics and the British. The hatred between the two neighbouring countries was built up over the centuries into the conflict of the present day.
The Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, was written up by the allied powers without any input from the Germans. The Treaty was ruinous to Germany in many ways. It contained a "war- guilt clause" under Article 231 which forced the Germans to accept all responsibility for damages caused to any of the allied countries during the war. Furthermore, it forced demilitarization of the Rhine, elimination of the German air force and near elimination of the German navy, and a maximum allowance of 100,000 troops in the German army. The Germans were forced to give up the territories of Alsace and Lorraine to France, and a great deal of Prussian territory went to the new state of Poland. To be given the opportunity of signing a peace treaty at all, the Germans were forced to accept a democratic government.
The Treaty of Versailles, however, had further effects than the crippling of German military power and economy. It was an insult, which the Germans could not overcome, and was to be one of the major forces of World War II. Many who were against the Weimar government from the start, and later the Nazi party in its rise to power, would describe the Treaty as a "stab-in-the-back" by traitors such as Jews and communists who set out to destroy Germany. They believed that the "invincible" German army could not have been defeated, since no allied troops had set foot in Germany during the war. This argument against the so-called "November Criminals" who allowed the destruction of the German government for its replacement by the Weimar Republic was to be a great source of Nazi propaganda in promoting German nationalism.
