Northern Ireland: Campaign for civil rights Flashcards
(18 cards)
When was Nicra formed
Early 1967
What does NICRA stand for?
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
What inspired NICRA
Civil rights campaigns in America
What were NICRAs aims
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
Catholics
Nationalists
Moderate unionists
Academics and trade unions
Why did Catholics support NICRA
New generation who were able to attend school free of charge due to the 11+ examination In 1947 and 1945 education act
why did some Nationalists support NICRA
believed that the local Nationalist Party (led by Eddie McAteer) had lost touch with the needs of its people.
Why did Moderate unionists support NICRA
believed NI Catholics treated unfairly and if NICRA aims achieved would seek no purpose in United Ireland
Who opposed NICRA
Large section of unionists population
Why did the large section of unionists oppose NICRA
feared nothing more than IRA
NICRA was not interested in equality for everyone in NI instead only looking out for Catholics
Feared NICRA campaign could weaken protestant control of NI
When was NICRAs first march?
24th August 1968
Where was NICRAs first march held?
County Tyrone.
Began in Coalisland and ended in Dungannon.
What was the reason for NICRAs first march?
Protest Dungannon councils decision to allocate council house in small village of Caledon to a nineteen-year-old Protestant woman rather than a large catholic family
How did the second NICRA march cause violence in Londonderry
5th October 1968
March against LD Corporation’s housing policy
March banned but still went through
Police officers faced off against protestors using heavy handed tactics whilst being onlooked by 4 Westminster MP#s and an RTE camera crew
How did NICRA overall marches cause violence
NICRA continued with marches after banned
Some marches through protestant areas and seen as provocative
Counter-demonstrations organised by unionists sometimes came into contact with NICRA’s marches
When was the Five Point Reform Programme announced
12th November 1968
What was the Five Point Reform Programme?
Point systems would be introduced to ensure fair allocation of council houses
Londonderry Corporation was to be replaced by a development commission
Some parts of 1922 special powers act would be removed
removal of additional votes for owners of businesses (along with other reforms to the operation of local government)
Establishment of an ombudsman to examine complaints
