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Why the British Troops Were Sent into Northern Ireland in 1969

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Why the British Troops Were Sent into Northern Ireland in 1969

In 1969 British Troops were sent into Ireland because Irish police could no longer cope with the violence between the Unionist Protestant population and the Catholic Nationist population. The events that meant it was necessary for British troops to be sent in stretch back a long way. This essay presents the main long term and short term explanations as to why troops were needed.

The tensions between Catholic and Protestant citizens had been mounting for many years. During the sixteenth century there was a lot of rivalry between the Catholic Church and Protestants and when King Henry VIII broke away from the Pope and became Protestant, …show more content…

Many poor Protestant and Catholic farmers and citizens were swayed towards nationalism between 1845 and 1851 when Ireland suffered from a tragic famine in which many people died. Both the English and Catholic churches and many local charities rushed in to help, yet English aid was not very helpful and inadequate to the large Irish population. Many of the Irish emigrated and England's rule over Ireland was questioned. With religious and historical conflicts the two communities found it very difficult to reach an understanding and an agreement as to what they both wanted.

Many Irish people who had immigrated to America supported home rule of Ireland, many Irish and not just Catholics but a few rich Protestant land owners who believed they could govern Ireland and tenant farmers also supported this idea as the president would help them buy the land they farmed. Others, mainly Protestants thought this would be a bad idea because being part of England they have a share in the empire, the United Kingdom and have an economic income from England. The Unionists wanted to stay with England because they too were Protestants and were afraid the Catholic Church would take over if Ireland was independent, the Nationalists didn't want to be ruled by protestant. Without the United Kingdom they could be an island with little support. Each group of people wanted

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