Changes

'''The Troubles'''  

'''The Troubles'''  

During the early 1960s, the IRA again came under socialist and Marxist influences.  This led to a lack of emphasis on military aspects of the organization.  When violent rioting broke out in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, in 1969, the IRA was ill-prepared to assist the Catholic/Nationalist community, to the extent that mocking jokes held that Ithe abbreviation 'IRA' stood for "I Ran Away".  The lack of focus on defense led to divisions within the IRA between those who favored a movement focused on class issues and those who were motivated to defend their community by armed force, and by extension, use armed struggle to bring about a united Ireland.  The organization split along these lines in 1969, and the group focused on defense and armed struggle against the British became known as the Provisional IRA (PIRA).  The remaining group was referred to as the Official IRA (OIRA).

During the early 1960s, the IRA again came under socialist and Marxist influences.  This led to a lack of emphasis on military aspects of the organization.  When violent rioting broke out in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, in 1969, the IRA was ill-prepared to assist the Catholic/Nationalist community, to the extent that mocking jokes held that the abbreviation 'IRA' stood for "I Ran Away".  The lack of focus on defense led to divisions within the IRA between those who favored a movement focused on class issues and those who were motivated to defend their community by armed force, and by extension, use armed struggle to bring about a united Ireland.  The organization split along these lines in 1969, and the group focused on defense and armed struggle against the British became known as the Provisional IRA (PIRA).  The remaining group was referred to as the Official IRA (OIRA).

OIRA engaged in some military activity during the early years of the Troubles before calling a ceasefire in 1972.  They have since transformed into a political party, currently known as The Workers’ Party, contesting elections largely in the [[Republic of Ireland]].  PIRA, on the other hand, launched a 30-year campaign of violence against British control of Northern Ireland.  PIRA violence was responsible for approximately 1,800 of the 3,000 deaths during the Troubles.  The PIRA campaign came to an end with a ceasefire in 1997 as a result of the [[Irish Peace Process]], which culminated in the [[Belfast Agreement]], sometimes known as the [[Good Friday Agreement]], in 1998.  In 2005, the IRA officially announced an end to its campaign and decommissioned much of its arms under international supervision.   

OIRA engaged in some military activity during the early years of the Troubles before calling a ceasefire in 1972.  They have since transformed into a political party, currently known as The Workers’ Party, contesting elections largely in the [[Republic of Ireland]].  PIRA, on the other hand, launched a 30-year campaign of violence against British control of Northern Ireland.  PIRA violence was responsible for approximately 1,800 of the 3,000 deaths during the Troubles.  The PIRA campaign came to an end with a ceasefire in 1997 as a result of the [[Irish Peace Process]], which culminated in the [[Belfast Agreement]], sometimes known as the [[Good Friday Agreement]], in 1998.  In 2005, the IRA officially announced an end to its campaign and decommissioned much of its arms under international supervision.