● It resulted in over 3,000 deaths, migration of people and widespread destruction. ● It also involved the British and Irish Governments in trying to find a solution that would end the Troubles.
What were the issues involved in the Troubles?
The Troubles initially began with Catholic/nationalist demands for improved civil rights. These were resisted by some unionists, who felt that the demands would give more power to nationalists and would undermine Northern Ireland.
Demonstrations and riots arising from clashes between nationalists and unionists and the police led to the introduction of the British Army to protect the nationalist community. ● Paramilitary involvement in the conflict from both sides – the IRA (Irish Republican Army) on the nationalist side, and the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) and UDA (Ulster Defence Association) on the unionist side – dramatically increased the levels of violence.
The IRA also went beyond civil rights demands by looking for a united Ireland.
What Caused the Troubles? The Troubles had both long-term and short-term causes.
Identify the long-term and short-term causes of the Troubles in Northern Ireland
The long-term causes went back to the British use of conquest and colonisation in Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries (Chapter 9). ● The short-term causes were those that led to nationalist demands for reform in Northern Ireland in the 1960s.
What were the long-term causes of the Troubles? 1
British conquest and colonisation
4 Partition
Long-term causes of the Troubles
3 Separate communities 1 British conquest and colonisation
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the kings and queens of England used war and plantation to conquer Ireland.