This document provides background information on the conflict in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics. It discusses the history of British rule in Ireland and the partitioning of the island in 1921. It then outlines several causes of the conflict in Northern Ireland, including divided loyalties between British and Irish identities, unequal allocation of housing and jobs, lack of voting rights for Catholics, and lack of opportunities for social interaction between the two communities due to segregated schools and residential areas. The underlying cause is identified as the lack of a common identity between Protestants and Catholics.

1. Northern Ireland
Protestants Vs. Catholics
Conflict in
Multi-Ethnic Societies

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3. Objectives
• 1. History of Northern Ireland before the
Conflict.
• 2. Causes of Northern Ireland Conflict.

4. Big Terms
• Protestants and Catholics
• Unionist/Loyalist VS
Nationalist/Republican

10. Background
• During the 1100s, Ireland was a united
country
• Subsequently it was conquered by
England in the 1200s
• The Irish Catholics who stayed behind
were given the less fertile land
• English landlords brought in Protestant
Scottish and English settlers into the
northern parts of Ireland and pushed out
the local Catholic farmers

12. Background
• Northern Ireland became
predominantly Protestant
• King James II (Catholic) came to the
throne and tried to defeat the
Protestants
• He failed and was defeated by King
William of Orange in the Battle of
Boyne in 1690

15. Background
• Penal Laws were implemented
against the Catholics by the
Protestants to ensure that they had
complete control of Ireland
– No Catholic can buy land
– No Catholic shall be allowed to vote
– No Catholic can join the army
– No Catholic may receive higher
education

16. Background
• In 1800, Ireland became part of the
United Kingdom (England)
• In the late 1800s, local Irish Catholics
sought limited self-government
known as Home Rule
• Hostilities continued and were so
bad that Britain lost control of the
southern part of Ireland

18. Background
• In 1921, Ireland was divided into 2
separate parts, based on majority
religion
– Northern Ireland (which was
predominantly Protestant)
– Southern Ireland (Irish Free State)
• Had their own parliament but consulted the
English monarchy regarding foreign affairs

20. Background
• The Catholics in the North were
treated very unfairly by the
government
• In 1949, the Irish Free State cut ties
with Britain and became the Republic
of Ireland

22. Background
• Before 1972
– Northern Ireland had its own parliament
in Stormont
• Since 1972
– Northern Ireland has been ruled directly
by the British parliament in London
– Northern Ireland is in charge of
commerce, health and education
– Ministers are predominantly protestant

23. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Catholics and Protestants see themselves
as 2 different groups
• Lack of common identity prevents
understanding and co-operation between
the 2 groups. (This shows that Lack of
Common Identity is the UNDERLYING
CAUSE)
• Religious differences cause tension BUT
ARE NOT a cause of conflict

24. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Divided Loyalties
• Unequal Allocation of Housing
• Unequal Employment Opportunities
• Lack of Voting Rights
• Lack of Opportunities for Social
Interaction

25. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Divided Loyalties
– Most Protestants see themselves as
British and do not want a union with the
Republic of Ireland as they fear a
Catholic government would not tolerate
them and their beliefs

26. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Divided Loyalties
– Catholics see themselves as Irish and
want to be reunited with the Republic of
Ireland
– Catholics are also resentful of the
history of English conquest where
Catholics were killed or ill-treated

27. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Divided Loyalties
– Loyalty to different
countries makes
the Catholics and
Protestants
intolerant of each
other

28. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Unequal Allocation of Housing
– Provision of housing by city councils
– Public houses are partly subsidized
– Housing councils are predominantly
Protestant
– Large Catholic families have to wait for
a long time to get houses
– Catholics are frustrated by the long wait

31. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Unequal Employment Opportunities
– Competition for jobs
– Difficult for Catholics to get jobs in the civil
service
– Unequal employment opportunities for the
Catholics despite having similar academic
qualifications
– The Catholics felt resentful and frustrated
because they had no chance of having a bright
future and supporting their families

32. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Lack of Voting Rights
– Before 1969, voting rights were a
problem because:
• Only those who owned houses and
businesses were entitled to vote in the
elections
• Each household was given 2 votes while
business owners were given more votes
based on the number of staff they had

33. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Lack of Voting Rights
– Before 1969, voting rights were a
problem because:
• As the Protestants were richer and had
bigger businesses, the Catholics lost out
• Voting districts were also drawn up to
include more Protestants

34. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Lack of Voting Rights
– Since 1969, the system is fairer:
• Everyone has a vote:
– if he or she is a British citizen
– Was born in Northern Ireland
– Lived in the UK for 7 years
• Voting districts were re-drawn to ensure
fairness

37. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Lack of Opportunities for Social
Interaction
– Fully funded public schools for
Protestants only and partially-funded
private schools for Catholics only
– Integrated schools set up by private
individuals only attract about 5% of the
total school-going population of
Northern Ireland

38. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Lack of Opportunities for Social
Interaction
– Protestant children are taught British history
and play British sports like rugby, hockey and
cricket
– They are loyal to the British and sing the
British national anthem
– Nothing about the Catholics or the history of
Northern Ireland is taught from a neutral
perspective

39. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Lack of Opportunities for Social
Interaction
– Catholic children are taught Irish history and
play Irish sports like hurling and are taught the
Irish language and culture
– They are loyal to the Republic of Ireland and
see Britain as a foreign country
– Nothing about the Protestants or the history of
Northern Ireland is taught from a neutral
perspective

44. Causes of Conflict in
Northern Ireland
• Lack of Opportunities for Social
Interaction
– Catholics and Protestants live in
separate residential areas
– Opportunities for social interaction are
reduced

45. Homework
• “The Irish conflict is mainly caused by a lack of
social interaction”. How far do you agree with
this statement? Explain your answer. [12m]
• Remember to deal with the lack of social
interaction as one of the factors in the issue of
The Irish Conflict.
• Weigh your lack of social interaction factor
against the MAIN CAUSE of the conflict
• Is it more important? Less important?