Downfall of Stormont and Bloody Sunday

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Questions and Answers

What was the main reason for the failure of the Sunningdale Agreement?

The lack of support from the British government.

The failure to reach a compromise on the role of the Irish government in Northern Ireland.

The lack of consensus on the principles of power sharing.

The opposition from both Unionist and Protestant groups, and Paramilitary campaigns. (correct)

What was the primary reason for the introduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland?

The resignation of Prime Minister Wilson.

The rising pressure from the international community.

The escalation of the conflict and increasing violence. (correct)

The collapse of the Northern Ireland government due to the strike.

What was the primary cause of worker strike mentioned in the text?

The accusations of "sponging" made by Prime Minister Wilson. (correct)

The introduction of direct rule by the British government.

The refusal of the Unionist parliament to implement power-sharing.

The failure of the Sunningdale Agreement.

What was the Downing Street Declaration 1993, as mentioned in the text, similar to?

The Good Friday Agreement 1998. (A), The Sunningdale Agreement. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the failure of the Sunningdale Agreement?

It prompted a renewed focus on finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a key factor that contributed to the failure of the Sunningdale Agreement?

Unionist opposition to the power-sharing executive. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Northern Ireland secretary that replaced the conservative government after the general election?

Rees (C) Signup and view all the answers

What legal action was taken against the Sunningdale Agreement?

A case brought to the Supreme Court by Kevin Boland. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was stated in the articles two and three of De Valera's 1937 Constitution?

The Irish Free State has moral and geographical ownership over Northern Ireland. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What major event did the Ulster Workers Council strike initiate?

A halt in household services and factory operations. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which political party was in control of the UK government during the general election that followed the Sunningdale Agreement?

Labour Party (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the noticeable effects of the Ulster Workers Council strike?

A blockade of power supplies from mainly Protestant areas. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which individual believed that the hesitance of Rees was influenced by unionist majority opposition?

P.Devlin (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the immediate outcome of Bloody Sunday?

William Whitelaw was appointed as the secretary of state. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which group primarily supported the White Paper proposed by William Whitelaw?

Pledged unionists like Faulkner (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the major opposition points for Unionists regarding the power-sharing agreement?

The proposal of a 'Council of Ireland' (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the effect of the White Paper on the political landscape in Northern Ireland?

It reinforced partition, gaining opposition from Republicans. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable feature of the results from the new assembly elections on June 29, 1973?

Almost two thirds of the candidates supported a power-sharing agreement. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Who were the primary opponents of the White Paper within the Republican community?

Sinn Fein members (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did the divisions within the Ulster Unionist Party manifest regarding power-sharing proposals?

Some supported while others opposed the proposals. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What phrase best describes the British troops' orders during the incident leading to Bloody Sunday?

'Shoot to kill' (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason for the British government taking direct control of Northern Ireland in 1972?

The failure of the Stormont government to stop paramilitary violence and maintain order. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What event marked a turning point in the British government's decision to implement direct rule in Northern Ireland?

Bloody Sunday in January 1972 (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did the British army's involvement in Northern Ireland initially affect the situation?

It further escalated the conflict, leading to increased violence. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the internment policy implemented by the Stormont government?

It resulted in the arrest of numerous innocent individuals, increasing tensions. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the failure of the Unionist government in Northern Ireland affect Westminster's position on direct rule?

It increased pressure on Westminster to take a more active role in Northern Ireland. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role did the 'peace walls' play in the escalating violence in Northern Ireland?

They were ineffective in preventing violence and became a symbol of sectarian division. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the content suggest about the position of the British government in the lead up to direct rule?

They were reluctant to take action but eventually felt obligated due to the escalating situation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these factors is NOT a primary cause of the downfall of Stormont?

The increasing support for the civil rights movement (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Downfall of Stormont and Sunningdale Agreement

British government took direct control of Northern Ireland on March 23, 1972, ending 52 years of Unionist rule in Stormont.
Direct rule was necessitated by escalating violence between Unionists and Nationalists, culminating in a two-day riot during the Battle of the Bogside (August 12, 1969).
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) proved incapable of controlling the mobs and arson attacks, prompting the deployment of the British Army on August 14, 1969.
Barbed wire barricades, later replaced with concrete walls, were erected to separate Protestant and Catholic areas.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) gained strength, organizing attacks from behind the barricades and achieving a high level of power by 1970.
British Army control was short-lived, worsening the situation and making direct rule unavoidable.

Bloody Sunday

On January 30, 1972, a march against internment escalated into Bloody Sunday, a day of violence in Derry, Ireland.
British troops shot and killed 13 civilians during a protest.
This event further fueled opposition and contributed to the decision to impose direct rule.

Sunningdale Agreement and its Failure

William Whitelaw was appointed the first secretary of state for Northern Ireland to attempt to negotiate a power-sharing agreement.
A White Paper was published to facilitate negotiations between Nationalists and Unionists.
Division within the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) over proposals hampered progress.
Opposing factions of the UUP (pledged vs unpledged unionists), particularly Paisley, Craig, and Hess, opposed the agreement.
The Sunningdale Agreement faced opposition and internal division early on.
Deep-seated divisions and opposition from Unionists led to its failure.

Reasons for Agreement Failure

The promise of a Council of Ireland created significant opposition from unionists, who viewed it as a threat to Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom.
The Irish government's case against the agreement, emphasizing its position on the Irish Free State, further heightened unionist resistance.
The withdrawal of skilled negotiator, William Whitelaw, and replacement with a less experienced successor, were critical setbacks hampering progress.
Political maneuvering, divisions, and mistrust hindered progress toward a power-sharing solution.
Unionist anger over the agreement led to the Ulster Workers' Council (UWC) strike, impacting essential services.
General election results further complicated the political landscape in Northern Ireland and contributed to the collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement.

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Description

Explore the historical events leading to the downfall of Stormont and the implications of Bloody Sunday. This quiz covers the dynamics between Unionists and Nationalists, the escalation of violence, and the British government's response in Northern Ireland. Test your knowledge on these pivotal moments in history.