Changes

=== Civil Rights Movement ===

=== Civil Rights Movement ===

Violently opposed to the existence of Northern Ireland was the [[Irish Republican Army]], or [[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 IRA was decisively defeated.  The new nation of Ireland officially claimed the whole island but unofficially recognized the existence of the north and did nothing to upset the status quo. However, the anti-treaty IRA forces continued to refer to themselves as the IRA after the civil war concluded, and to consider themselves the legitimate government of Ireland.   

Violently opposed to the existence of Northern Ireland was the terrorist group the [[Irish Republican Army]], or [[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 IRA was decisively defeated.  The new nation of Ireland officially claimed the whole island but unofficially recognized the existence of the north and did nothing to upset the status quo. However, the anti-treaty IRA forces continued to refer to themselves as the IRA after the civil war concluded, and to consider themselves the legitimate government of Ireland.   

During the late 1960s, partially inspired by the civil rights movement in the [[United States]], Northern Ireland Catholics began to protest against perceived discrimination by the government.  Protests were initially led by the [[Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association]], or NICRA, which was founded in January 1967. NICRA's demands included repeal of the Special Powers Act, the end of the paramilitary B Specials police force, an end to the gerrymandering in local elections, and an end to discrimination in terms of government housing and government employment.

During the late 1960s, partially inspired by the civil rights movement in the [[United States]], Catholics in Northern Ireland began to protest against perceived discrimination by the government.  Protests were initially led by the [[Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association]], or NICRA, which was founded in January 1967. NICRA's demands included repeal of the Special Powers Act, the end of the paramilitary B Specials police force, an end to the [[gerrymandering]] in local elections, and an end to discrimination in terms of government housing and government employment.

Protests typically took the form of marches or other demonstrations.  One of the most important protests took place on January 1, 1969, when a group from the student People's Democracy organisation organised a march from Belfast to [[Derry]], intended to imitate [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]]'s marches from Selma to Montgomery.  The march was repeatedly attacked by unionists (People wanting to retain the 'Union' of Northern Ireland with Great Britain), including off-duty policemen.  The most intense violence occurred at Burntollet Bridge, where the marchers were attacked by 200 unionists while police did little to intervene.

Protests typically took the form of marches or other demonstrations.  One of the most important protests took place on January 1, 1969, when a group from the student People's Democracy organisation organized a march from Belfast to [[Londonderry]], intended to imitate [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]]'s marches from Selma to Montgomery.  The march was repeatedly attacked by unionists (People wanting to retain the 'Union' of Northern Ireland with Great Britain), including off-duty policemen.  The most intense violence occurred at Burntollet Bridge, where the marchers were attacked by 200 unionists while police did little to intervene.

=== The Troubles: 1969-1998 ===

=== The Troubles: 1969-1998 ===