NORTHERN IRELAND

The Protestant-Catholic Tension

Divided Loyalties
- Many Protestants see themselves as British
- Protestants wish for the country to be part of the United Kingdom
- Catholics see themselves as Irish
- Embrace the idea of reunification with Ireland

The Education System
- Public schools for Protestants
- Taught British history
- Private schools partly funded by the government cater to Catholics
- Taught Irish history and tend to regard British as a foreign country

Employment
- Catholics were given less opportunity
- Catholic males tend to be 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed
- Few Catholics holding high positions in public and private sectors

Housing
- Members of the city councils were largely Protestants
- Protestants given priority in terms of housing
- Left many Catholics homeless

Voting
- Each household was given 2 votes
- Companies were given more, depending on their size
- Large companies owned by richer Protestants, hence more votes
- Voting districts were often drawn up to include large numbers of Protestants

Ways of Making Demands

- Civil Rights Movements emerged
- Made peaceful demands for basic rights
- Movement was met with hostility and violence
- The beginning of THE TROUBLES
- British Army’s intervention was welcomed by the Catholic
- Until they started searching their homes
- Catholics lost faith
- Turned to the Irish Republican Army (IRA)
- BLOODY SUNDAY