unit2 A Brief Introduction to the United KingdomⅡ

英美文学

A Brief Introduction to the United KingdomⅡ--Northern Ireland08011412任微 Renee

英美文学

Key points:1. Population and physical features of Northern Ireland (北爱尔兰的人口和地理特征) 2. Economy of Northern Ireland (北爱尔兰的经济) 3. The Home Rule Bill (自治法案) 4. The Easter Rising of 1916 (1916年复活节起义) 5. The Sinn Fein Party (新芬党) 6. Religious conflicts between the Irish and the British (爱尔兰人和不列颠人之间的宗教冲突) 7. Partition of Ireland in 1921 (1921年爱尔兰的分裂) 8. Troubles and Solutions (冲突与解决办法) 9. Cooperation between the British and Irish governments (英国政府和爱尔兰政府之间的合作) 10. The Good Friday Agreement (《北爱和平协议》)

英美文学

ⅠIntroductionPopulation and physical features of Northern Ireland 1) often called Ulster, smallest of the 4 (in area $ population) 2) 1.5 million people, smaller than many Chinese cities 3) capital: Belfast, the biggest city in the province, east coast 4) mostly rural, low hills, beautiful lake district in the south-west, rugged coastline, including its most famous landmark, the Giant’s Causeway(巨型长堤)

英美文学

the Giant’s Causeway(巨型长堤)

英美文学

ⅡConflicts between Irish people & British government

1. Political problems 1) Ordinary life continues, and troubles are an addition. 2) Crime is very low. 3) Problems are mainly concentrated in particular areas.

英美文学

2.Active cultural life --- theatres, restaurants, pubs and museums 3. Economy 1) has problems: ①) partly because the troubles discouraging investment ② partly because of its peripherality (周边) in relation to the UK 2) wealth per head is the lowest of UK 3) living costs are comparatively low 4) Industrial companies include the aircraft manufacturers.

英美文学

Home Rule Bill (自治法案)From 1801 to 1921, the full name of UK was “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”, because the whole island of Ireland was politically integrated with Great Britain. But due to Irish desires for an independent Irish state, a campaign in parliament for “Home-rule” was launched and the Home Rule Bill was finally passed in 1914.

英美文学

Guerilla or terrorist activities against the British institutions and the British military forces1) The Easter Rising of 1916 (复活节起义) ---the rebels occupied Dublin’s Post Office and forced the British to take it back by military force. The leaders of the rebellion were executed by the British authorities. 2) the Sinn Fein Party (新芬党) --- a legal political party, supporters of the Irish terrorists; support the IRA’s right to fight by a twin campaign, both political and military which they call the policy of “the Bullet and the Ballot Box” (暴力和民主手段)

英美文学

the religious conflicts between the Irish and the British--- Ireland was not invaded by the Romans or the AngloSaxons --- most Irish are Catholics; most Britain are Protestants --- In the 17th C., people emigrated from Scotla

nd and Northern England to the north of Ireland. The peoples of this part thought of themselves as British, and wished to remain a part of the British state. They were Protestants.

英美文学

A partition of Ireland in 1921A compromise: the Southern 26 counties--- an independent “free state” (the Republic of Ireland) The 6 north-eastern counties--- a part of the UK. * End 700 years of British rule in southern Ireland Northern Ireland was given its own Parliament to deal with Northern Irish internal affairs, based at Stormont. (斯多蒙特)

英美文学

Ⅲ The Troubles in Northern Ireland Troubles and solutionsThe majority, the Protestants controlled the local democratically- elected parliament and used that power to support their own economic and social dominance in the province. 40% of the population were Catholic Irish, who found it harder to get jobs, or to benefit from social programmes such as public housing. The armed conflict “troubles” developed.

英美文学

a Civil Rights Movement (北爱民权运动)

In 1960s, Catholics often marched in the streets and fought for equality.

民权标志

英美文学

the presence of British soldiers on Northern Ireland since 1969--- first to protect the Catholic people, later were seen as the symbol of British rule in Northern Ireland.

英美文学

IRA’s violence in the 1970s① set up in 1919, ② split in 1969official IRA(正式派) Provisional IRA(临时派) ③ IRA bombed and shot security forces and citycenters in 1970s. Protestants took revenge on Catholics *Result: Northern Irish cities were divided into exclusively Protestant and exclusively Catholic areas. Two communities hardly mix at all.

英美文学

Bloody Sunday (血腥星期日， 1972/1/30In 1972, 468 people were killed in Northern Ireland, of whom 13 were Catholics who had been taking part in a peaceful civil rights march. It is an important symbol of British oppression. *Result: strengthen Catholic opposition to the British presence.

英美文学

the Power-Sharing mechanism① 1973, an agreement of a Power-Sharing mechanism was reached, allowing the minority Catholic political influence. ② The Protestant majority was outraged and went on strike, leading to the collapse of it. ③ The Northern Irish parliament was suspended and replaced by “direct-rule” from London until now

英美文学

Cooperation between the British & Irish governmentsIn 1985, the Anglo-Irish agreement was signed between the two governments, giving the Irish a right to consultation on Northern Irish matters.

英美文学

IRA’s refusal to hand over their weapons① In August 1994, the IRA declared a ceasefire. ② To make the Sinn Fein presence at the talks acceptable to Unionist politicians, the British government asked the IRA to hand over at least some of its weapons to show it seriousness. The IRA refused, and in February 1996, they set off two explosions in London. *Result: The future for Northern Ireland is still in doubt

英美文学

The Good Friday Agreement (《北爱和平协议》)As a result of multi-party negotiations, the Good Fri

day Agreement was approved on 10 April 1998. This agreement assures the loyalist community that Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom and it won’t change its political status unless the majority of the people of Northern Ireland agree. Under the terms of the agreement, Northern Ireland should be governed by three separate jurisdictions: that of the Republic of Ireland, that of Great Britain and that of its own elected executive government of ten ministers.

本文来源：https://www.bwwdw.com/article/fmhi.html