Differences Between the Beliefs of Nationalists and Unionists

Differences Between the Beliefs of Nationalists and Unionists

In August 1968 the first civil rights march took place in support of

families blighted by poor housing conditions. Protestants began to

grow suspicious of these Catholic campaigners; for example Ian Paisley

encouraged Protestants not to trust the marchers, as they were out to

destroy Northern Ireland. In January 1969 the students from Queen's

University of Belfast formed a more radical organisation called the

People's Democracy. On New Years Day 1969 they led a peaceful march

from Belfast to Londonderry. They passed through a strongly Protestant

area provoking violent reactions from unionists and loyalists. At

Burntollent Bridge, the marchers were ambushed by Protestant loyalists

while police from the RUC looked on doing little to help. When the

marchers reached Londonderry, loyalist mobs awaited them. RUC officers

and B-Specials went into the Catholic Bogside area, terrorising and

destroying everything in sight; smashing shop windows, throwing petrol

bombs and singing abusive Protestant songs. After the fiasco at the

Battle of the Bogside, a series of bomb explosions increased tension

further. In April O'Neill resigned as Prime Minister after he didn't

gain enough support for his latest '1 man, 1 vote' campaign. In order

to try and stop the chaos, the British government sent in troops to

restore law and order on August 14th 1969.

When British troops were sent into Ireland many Catholics rejoiced:

they believed the army would be a fairer police force than the RUC.

However, the army soon began to get tough. They policed Catholic areas

as if it were a huge military operation, raiding houses whilst

searching for artillery belonging to the IRA. The alienated Catholic

community began to see the British army as another weapon the unionist

government could use against them. However, it was the introduction of

internment in 1971 which sparked the biggest increase in bitterness

between Catholics and Protestants. It also sparked one of the most

horrific events in human history: Bloody Sunday. It was on 30th

January 1972 in Londonderry when 13 civilians were massacred by