5 Events of July & Downing Street

Question 1

What sort of violence took place in Belfast in July 1969?

Answer 1

It mainly took the form of house burnings, mostly by loyalists, forcing many to leave their homes .

Question 2

Which community would have been burned out of their houses in east Belfast?

Answer 2

The unionists attempted to burn out all the nationalists in the east

Question 3

How many people were killed and injured in the Belfast house burnings?

Answer 3

Seven dead

100 were wounded

Question 4

Battle of the Bogside details (7)

Answer 4

Date: 12th August
Where: Londonderry
Lasted for: 50 hours
Incident which sparked the violence: an annual apprentice boys parade
Who was involved?: RUC, annual apprentice boys and nationalists
Reaction of Jack Lynch: He issued a statement outlining his concerns with the accompanying movement of Irish troops and field hospitals to the border. This did little to easy tension
How calm was restored: By using a small number of troops, as requested by nationalist politicians

Question 5

Britain’s solutions to the street violence: (2)

Answer 5

• send in the British army,

- the Downing Street Declaration

Question 6

Consequences of events in August 1969(2)

Answer 6

• Deployment of the British Army on streets of NI on 14th and 15th August to restore law and order
• Eventual re-emergence of IRA

Question 7

Taoiseach’s solutions to the street violence (2)

Answer 7

• Issue a statement outlining concerns that the Irish government can’t stand by and watch innocents get hurt
• Moved Irish troops and field hospitals to the border

Question 8

Why were the nationalists positive about the army’s arrival?

Answer 8

They saw them as protectors against RUC violence or sectarian attacks

Question 9

How did the nationalists react to the army’s arrival in August 1969?

Answer 9

Positive. Welcomed them often with tea and buns.

Question 10

What were nationalists promised in the Downing Street Declaration reforms:

Answer 10

Every citizen of NI is entitled to the same quality of treatment and freedom from discrimination irrespective of political views or religion

Question 10

Reasons for government intervention (3)

Answer 10

• Using army might stop violence but it wouldn’t solve NI’s problems.
• New political ideas were needed
• Therefore Chichester-Clark travelled to London to meet the PM Wilson

Question 12

What date were the Downing Street Declaration reforms released ?

Answer 12

19th August 1969

Question 13

What were unionists promised in the Downing Street Declaration reforms?

Answer 13

NI should not cease to be part of the U.K. without the consent of the people of NI

Question 14

Name the 5 NICRA reforms which were granted?

Answer 14

• End to gerrymandering and introduce one man one vote
• a single housing authority was established
• measures to prevent discrimination in public employment
• a committee on policing was established under Lord Hunt
• a ministry of community relations was created

Question 15

One economic reform included in the Declaration?

Answer 15

A £2 million programme of work creating schemes

Question 16

Why were unionists worried about the Downing Street declaration reforms?

Answer 16

Many unionists were concerned at what they saw as confusing concessions to nationalists. They would fear the disbandment of the B Specials and disarming the RUC

Question 17

Why did nationalists support the reforms of the Downing Street declaration?

Answer 17

They believed that an improved future involving a reform political system was now within their grasp e.g end to gerrymandering

Question 18

How did unionists in Belfast show their opposition to the reforms?

Answer 18

Extreme loyalist violence erupted on Belfast’s Skankill road