Reasons for the Rise of the Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland

421 Words2 Pages
Despite the heightened sense of optimism and economic prosperity during the 1950s to 1960s, there were still many factors contributing towards tensions amongst Unionists and Nationalists in Ireland. Discontent communities, political tensions, economic problems and divisions in society all played a key part in rousing the rise of the Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland throughout the 1960s. Segregation and discrimination was the single most important factor in the rise of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland. The divisions in society had stemmed from the sectarian tension that had gradually build up from as early as the 16th century, and although it was reduced between 1950-1960, there were still prominent gaps of prejudice which filled communities. Education was still largely a segregated school system in the 1960s, where Catholics and Protestants students played different sports, engaged in different community groups and so on. In 1965, discrimination through segregation was present during the decision to build Northern Ireland’s second university in the mainly Protestant town of Coleraine, rather than previously planned in Londonderry. Unionists believed the university would attract more Catholics to live there, which outraged both Catholics and Protestants shown through their ‘University for Derry campaign.’ This sparked a sense of protest and opposition to the government from both religious sectors As politics of Northern Ireland was dominated by the Ulster Unionist Party under O’Neill’s government, political tensions heightened between Unionists and Nationalists. In the 1960s, gerrymandering left some Nationalists disillusioned with the way politics was working. In Londonderry, Catholics were given less representation compared to Protestants in terms of the ratio between people and councillors. Furthermore, voting in Northern Ireland was
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