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The most important group in this regard has been the [[terrorist]] [[Irish Republican Army]], commonly known as the [[IRA]]. The IRA was originally formed to fight the British during the War of Independence.  Many IRA members refused to accept the Anglo-Irish treaty's partition of the island into two separate countries, leading to the bloody Irish Civil War of 1922-23, in which pro-treaty forces were victorious.  However, the anti-treaty forces continued to refer to themselves as the IRA after the civil war concluded, and to consider themselves the legitimate government of Ireland.   

The most important group in this regard has been the [[terrorist]] [[Irish Republican Army]], commonly known as the [[IRA]]. The IRA was originally formed to fight the British during the War of Independence.  Many IRA members refused to accept the Anglo-Irish treaty's partition of the island into two separate countries, leading to the bloody Irish Civil War of 1922-23, in which pro-treaty forces were victorious.  However, the anti-treaty forces continued to refer to themselves as the IRA after the civil war concluded, and to consider themselves the legitimate government of Ireland.   

Governments of Northern Ireland were widely criticized for anti-Catholic policies, particularly during its first 40 years.  The country's first prime minister, [[James Craig]], once famously described it as "a Protestant parliament for a Protestant people."<ref>Bardon, J. (1992).  A History of Ulster.  The Blackstaff Press, Belfast, pp. 539.</ref>

Governments of Northern Ireland were widely criticized for anti-Catholic policies, particularly during its first 40 years.  The country's first prime minister, [[James Craig]], once famously described it as "a Protestant parliament for a Protestant people."<ref>Bardon, J. (1992).  A History of Ulster.  The Blackstaff Press, Belfast, pp. 539.</ref> Irish Nationalists claimed that discrimination was present in areas such as housing, employment and treatment of Catholics by the overwhelmingly protestant police force, the RUC ([[Royal Ulster Constabulary]]). Former [[Ulster Unionist Party]] leader and former [[First Minister of Northern Ireland]], [[David Trimble]] would describe Northern Ireland as having been "a cold house for Catholics".

=== Civil Rights Movement ===

=== Civil Rights Movement ===

"The Troubles" refers to a 30-year period of terrorism and civil unrest.  The Troubles are generally considered to have begun with civil rights movement and the violent unionist response.  Northern Ireland prime minister Terrence O'Neill at first responded favorably to the demands of the protestors, but this attitude was decried by other unionists, including [[Ian Paisley]].  Many unionists believed that NICRA was controlled by the [[IRA]].  Following the violence at Burntollet Bridge, nationalists in the city of Derry began to erect barricades to protect themselves.  This led to the Battle of the Bogside between nationalists and police prior to a unionist march that was scheduled to pass the nationalist Bogside area of the city.  The Battle of the Bogside lasted from August 12 to 14, 1969 before British troops were called to resolve the situation.  In the meantime, fierce rioting broke out in other parts of the country, including Belfast, Newry, and Strabane.  In total, 7 people were killed and 750 injured during the unrest in August 1969, and 1,500 Catholic families and 500 Protestant families were forced from their homes.  The Northern Ireland government then requested the presence of British troops throughout the country to keep order.

"The Troubles" refers to a 30-year period of terrorism and civil unrest.  The Troubles are generally considered to have begun with civil rights movement and the violent unionist response.  Northern Ireland prime minister Terrence O'Neill at first responded favorably to the demands of the protestors, but this attitude was decried by other unionists, including [[Ian Paisley]].  Many unionists believed that NICRA was controlled by the [[IRA]].  Following the violence at Burntollet Bridge, nationalists in the city of Derry began to erect barricades to protect themselves.  This led to the Battle of the Bogside between nationalists and police prior to a unionist march that was scheduled to pass the nationalist Bogside area of the city.  The Battle of the Bogside lasted from August 12 to 14, 1969 before British troops were called to resolve the situation.  In the meantime, fierce rioting broke out in other parts of the country, including Belfast, Newry, and Strabane.  In total, 7 people were killed and 750 injured during the unrest in August 1969, and 1,500 Catholic families and 500 Protestant families were forced from their homes.  The Northern Ireland government then requested the presence of British troops throughout the country to keep order.

The violence of the Troubles peaked during the early 1970s, spurred by an influx of recruits to various terrorist organizations, including the republican [[IRA]] and the loyalist [[Ulster Defence Association]] and [[Ulster Volunteer Force]]. A number of events combined to widen the divide between the nationalist and unionist communities.  For nationalists, these included the Falls Curfew of July 1970, in which British troops cordoned off nationalist neighborhoods in Belfast, not allowing residents in or out of the area; 4 nationalists were killed in fighting between British troops and the IRA.  The introduction of internment without trial in August 1971 was viewed by nationalists as discriminatory, as 348 of the first 350 people interned were nationalists.  Of nearly 2,000 people interned over the next four years, 94.6% were nationalists. For unionists, [[IRA]] actions similarly hardened their positions.  For example, the IRA carried out 1,300 bombings by the end of 1972, largely against commercial targets, considerably disrupting everyday life and often resulting in the deaths of uninvolved civilians.  The worst example during this period is known as Bloody Friday, when the IRA set off 22 bombs on July 21, 1972, causing 9 deaths and 130 injuries.  The IRA provided warnings to security forces via the media, but given the number of bombs planted did not give sufficient time to allow the security forces to evacuate the areas.  In some cases, ambiguous warnings led to people being led toward, rather than away from, bombs about to be detonated.

The violence of the Troubles peaked during the early 1970s, spurred by an influx of recruits to various terrorist organizations, including the republican [[Provisional IRA]] and the loyalist [[Ulster Defence Association]] and [[Ulster Volunteer Force]]. The [[Irish Republican Army]] had experienced a split in [[1969]] with the mostly Dublin based leadership led by [[Cathal Goulding]] wishing to embark upon a [[Marxist]] agenda and eventually move away from armed resistance. While most of the northern based membership (led by [[Seán Mac Stíofáin]]) advocated the violent overthrow of British rule in Northern Ireland. The [[Provisional IRA]] of Seán Mac Stíofáin quickly overtook the [[Official IRA]] of Cathal Goulding in terms of membership and support, the Official IRA eventually abandoned violence in [[1974]], while the Provisional IRA usually became reffered to simply as the IRA.

 

 

A number of events combined to widen the divide between the nationalist and unionist communities.  For nationalists, these included the Falls Curfew of July 1970, in which British troops cordoned off nationalist neighborhoods in Belfast, not allowing residents in or out of the area; 4 nationalists were killed in fighting between British troops and the IRA.  The introduction of internment without trial in August 1971 was viewed by nationalists as discriminatory, as 348 of the first 350 people interned were nationalists.  Of nearly 2,000 people interned over the next four years, 94.6% were nationalists. For unionists, [[IRA]] actions similarly hardened their positions.  For example, the IRA carried out 1,300 bombings by the end of 1972, largely against commercial targets, considerably disrupting everyday life and often resulting in the deaths of uninvolved civilians.  The worst example during this period is known as Bloody Friday, when the IRA set off 22 bombs on July 21, 1972, causing 9 deaths and 130 injuries.  The IRA provided warnings to security forces via the media, but given the number of bombs planted did not give sufficient time to allow the security forces to evacuate the areas.  In some cases, ambiguous warnings led to people being led toward, rather than away from, bombs about to be detonated.

In 1972 the UK government, deeming the Northern Ireland government unable to stabilize the situation, suspended the Northern Ireland parliament and instituted direct rule from London.  While direct rule was intended as a temporary measure, it continued throughout the course of the Troubles.

In 1972 the UK government, deeming the Northern Ireland government unable to stabilize the situation, suspended the Northern Ireland parliament and instituted direct rule from London.  While direct rule was intended as a temporary measure, it continued throughout the course of the Troubles.