2. The Campaign for Civil Rights Flashcards
Why were the people of NI angry at O’Neill’s policies?
Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O’Neill’s policies
might have been introduced for the right reasons, but by the
late 1960s they resulted in creating divisions amongst
unionists. They feared that too much was being given away to
nationalists. At the same time, the hopes raised within
nationalism by the changes O’Neill promised were never
going to be achieved. As a result, nationalist frustration grew.
What civil rights association was formed in early 1967 in NI?
The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) was
formed in early 1967.
What inspired the creation of NICRA?
The ongoing civil rights campaign in
the USA provided the new group with much of its
inspiration. At the same time there were other sources of encouragement in the period following NICRA’s
establishment, notably the student demonstrations that took place in France during 1968. What particularly appealed to
NICRA’s leaders was the American groups’ use of non-violent methods of civil disobedience as part of its campaign to
achieve equality for black people.
Most importantly, by 1967 a series of marches and protests had led the US Congress to pass laws outlawing public
discrimination and guaranteeing voting rights. These successes were widely reported in Europe.
What was another reason for the creation of NICRA?
The 1947 Education Act, which made school mandatory for all to the age of 16, meant a new generation of educated Nationalists were now more involved in protests.
What were the 7 aims of NICRA?
Achieve one-man one vote (OMOV) for local council elections. If this was introduced, anyone over the age of 18 would be allowed to vote. OMOV would also end the practice of giving multiple votes to business owners.
● Ensure that local councils allocated their houses fairly. At this time only those who paid rates were allowed to
vote in local council elections. If councils did not give Catholics houses then they could not vote.
● Stop the practice of gerrymandering.
● Ensure that religion was not used as a factor when allocating government jobs.
● End the use of the Special Powers Act.
● Disband the B Specials.
● Introduce a system that allows people to report local council violations in any of the above areas.
Who supported NICRA?
A new generation of Catholics who had been able to attend secondary school free of charge as a result of the
introduction of the 11+ examination in 1947.
● Those nationalists who believed that the local Nationalist Party (led by Eddie McAteer) had lost touch with the
needs of its people.
● Moderate unionists who believed that Northern Ireland’s Catholics were being unfairly treated. These unionists
also believed that if NICRA’s aims were achieved, there would be no reason for Catholics to want to be part of a
united Ireland.
● Other groups and individuals including academics and trades unionists.
Who opposed NICRA and what did they fear?
Opposition to NICRA came from a large section of the unionist population. They feared that:
● NICRA was nothing more than the IRA under a different name.
● NICRA was not interested in equality for everyone in Northern Ireland. Instead it was only looking out for the
needs of Catholics. They were also afraid that NICRA’s campaign could weaken Protestant control of Northern
Ireland, thus leading to a united Ireland.
When was NICRA’s first strike where was it and why did it happen?
On 24th August 1968 NICRA’s first march was held in County Tyrone. The march began in Coalisland and ended in
Dungannon. The reason why this was chosen as the location of the first march was to protest at Dungannon Council’s
decision to allocate one of its council houses in the small village of Caledon to a nineteen-year-old Protestant woman
rather than a large Catholic family. The Coalisland-Dungannon march passed peacefully.
When, why and where did NICRA’s 2nd march take place?
NICRA’s second
march was held in Derry on 5th October 1968.
Again the march was organised to draw attention to what NICRA saw as discrimination - in this case Londonderry
Corporation’s housing policy.
What happened in NICRA’s (London)Derry march?
Some of Derry’s Protestant population were very unhappy with NICRA’s plans and so the city’s Apprentice Boys
announced plans to hold their own demonstration at the same time. Fearing an outbreak of violence the Stormont Government banned both marches - however NICRA let it be known that it
would ignore this ban.
NICRA’s march started on Duke Street in Derry’s Waterside area.
As it moved up Duke Street towards the Craigavon Bridge - accompanied by four Westminster MPs and an RTE camera
crew - the protestors were faced by lines of police officers.
Some of the police were heavy-handed in their efforts to stop the march - their tactics were captured by the RTE
television crew and the resulting images were widely seen at home and abroad.
What happened after the Derry march and why did violence result?
There were further NICRA marches made the situation even worse.
Quite often violence resulted.
There were several reasons for this:
● NICRA continued with marches even after they had been banned.
● Some marches went through Protestant areas and this was seen as provocative.
● Counter-demonstrations organised by unionists sometimes came into contact with NICRA’s marches.
What happened as a result of the growing violence from the NICRA marches?
As a result of this unrest O’Neill, Faulkner and Craig were summoned to
Westminster on 4 November to meet the British Labour Prime Minister, Harold
Wilson. The outcome was the announcement of a Five Point Reform Programme on 22
November 1968.
What were the 5 outcomes of the Five Point Reform Programme and when would they come into effect?
A points system would be introduced to ensure fair allocation of council
houses.
● Londonderry Corporation was to be replaced by a Development
Commission.
● Some parts of the 1922 Special Powers Act would be removed.
● The removal of additional votes for owners of businesses (along with
other reforms to the operation of the local government).
● The establishment of an ombudsman to examine complaints.
It was stated that all of these reforms would be put in place by late 1971.
What was ‘Ulster at a Crossroads’?
Despite the announcement of the Reform Programme, protests and
counter-protests continued.
O’Neill, therefore, decided to appear on television in an attempt to bring
home to people the dangerous situation that Northern Ireland now found
itself facing.
In his address the Prime Minister made a particular appeal to NICRA’s
leaders to help avoid chaos. This became known as the ‘Ulster at the Crossroads’ speech.
What seemed to happen in the short term after the crossroads speech?
In the short term O’Neill’s television broadcast seemed to work as NICRA
marches were called off.
