Direct Rule Flashcards
(12 cards)
1
Q
Who was Prime Minister of Britain in 1972?
A
Edward Heath
2
Q
What political party did Edward Heath belong to?
A
Conservative
3
Q
Why was direct rule introduced in 1972?
A
- There was an increase in violence at the beginning of 1972
- Bloody Sunday exposed Stormont’s inability to control Northern Ireland
- Westminster had concluded that the Northern Ireland government was no longer capable of maintaining law and order
- Britain had been criticised internationally for the role it was playing in Northern Ireland
- It was becoming increasingly difficult to justify unionist domination
4
Q
What was the timeline of events that led to the introduction of direct rule?
A
- Brian Faulkner demanded the power to re-arm the RUC and re-establish the B specials
- Edward Heath responded by demanding control of the law and order and justice; Faulkner refused
- on the 2nd of March 1972 senior members of the Stormont government travelled to London in the belief that they were having talks about how to deal with the situation in Northern Ireland
- Westminster proposed the transfer of security control to Westminster, the holding of a referendum on the future border, the gradual removal of internment, the appointment of a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the holding of talks with other parties in Northern Ireland to establish a community government
- the Northern Ireland government could not accept the loss of control over security, so all of its members resigned in protest
- Edward Heath suspended the Stormont government on the 24th of March 1972 for a year and began running Northern Ireland directly from London
5
Q
Who was appointed as Northern Ireland’s first Secretary of State?
A
William Whitelaw
6
Q
What was the nationalist response to the introduction of direct rule in 1972?
A
- Most nationalists were pleased to see the introduction of direct rule and were glad to see the end of unionist domination in Stormont
- The SDLP welcomed direct rule as a chance for peace and progress, as did the Dublin government
- The IRA, although it had achieved one of its aims, opposed direct rule and announced its determination to continue the fight for a united Ireland
- NICRA and PD continued their campaign for civil rights
7
Q
What was the unionist response to the introduction of direct rule in 1972?
A
- Many unionists felt betrayed by the British government as they saw Stormont as a barrier against a united Ireland and some began to support more extreme parties like the DUP
- In the last hours of Stormont, a huge demonstration took place on the 28th of March 1972, attended by an estimated crowd of 100,000
- A series of strikes and shutdowns was organised by the Ulster Vanguard and lasted for two days
- There was a spate of sectarian murders by loyalists, particularly in Belfast
- Support for loyalist paramilitaries increased
8
Q
How many people died because of violence in 1972?
A
496
9
Q
When was Bloody Friday?
A
21st July 1972
10
Q
How many people died on Bloody Friday?
A
9
11
Q
When was the bombing of the village of Claudy?
A
31st of July 1972
12
Q
Who was responsible for Bloody Friday and the bombing of Claudy?
A
The PIRA
