Unit 2 A brief introduction to the UK II

1、A brief introduction to the UK II1 Basic features of Northern Ireland A History of Northern Ireland Conflicts and Hope in Northern Ireland2 Basic features of Northern IrelandA. Smallest of the 4 nations in land sizeB. Smallest of the 4 nations in populationC. Active cultural life in Northern Ireland

2、 D. Economy of Northern Ireland 3A. Smallest of the 4 nations in area1. Land size and location2. flag of Northern Ireland 3.“Ulster” or “the North” 4. Giants Causeway 5. Lough Neagh 6. Big cities 41. Land size and location14, 139 sq kmthe smallest in the UK1/6 of the islandthe northeastern corner52.

3、 flag of Northern Ireland unofficial flag of Northern Ireland, flown subordinate to the Union Jacka white background bearing a central red cross with a white six-pointed star, a red hand, and a gold crown.63. “Ulster” or “the North” “Ulster” used by the Protestant community In fact a historic provin

4、ce of Ireland 9 counties: 3 now in Ireland and 6 now making up the whole of Northern Ireland“the north of Ireland” used by Catholics Catholics seldom use this name “Ulster”. For most Catholics the term “Ulster” is used only to refer to the historic Irish province of Ulster 7Historical provinces in I

5、reland84. Giants Causeway堤道 the landmark with an old legend one of the most famous tourist attractions It was built by the giant Finn MacCool to bridge the channel from Ireland to Scotland in order to pass over it.an unusual formation of rock columns along the north coast of Northern Ireland “Steps”

6、 of hexagonal columns formed by the rapid cooling of lava (熔岩) upon contact with the sea 9105. Lough Neagh /lQk neI/ the largest lake in the UK the largest body of water on the island of Ireland116. Big cities Belfast, Capital city of Northern Ireland the biggest city in the province A relatively sm

7、all town of around 350,000 Londonderry or Derry A city and a district in Northern Ireland1213B. Smallest in populationAbout of the population descendants of English and Scottish settlers since the 1600sMost of the rest descendants of the earlier Celtic, Viking, and Norman settlers14The English langu

8、age the official language of Northern IrelandThe Irish language a form of Gaelic once used throughout Ireland Now it is taught in Roman Catholic schools and in some Protestant schools.15About are Protestants traditional ties to the rest of the UK. Most Protestants are unionists, who want Northern Ir

9、eland to remain in the United Kingdom. Nearly all of the rest are Roman Catholics As most of the people in the Republic of Ireland. Most Catholics are nationalists, who want Northern Ireland to become part of the Irish Republic.16C. Active cultural lifeBackground to the distinctive cultural life the

10、 arrival of Protestant English and Scottish people starting in the 17th century The Catholic-Protestant split and the associated troubles are recurrent themes in Northern Irish arts. Active cultural life 1. Literature 2. Film 3. Music171. Literaturea. Seamus Heaney /SeIms hi:ni/ Winner of the Nobel

11、Prize for literature in 1995 18b. Brian Friel /fri:l/ A playwright and short-story writer best known for addressing Irish themes E.g. the interplay of identity and territory in the conflict between Northern Ireland and Ireland192. FilmThe Crying Game (1992) Director: Neil Jordan Awards (1993): Acade

12、my Award for Best WritingScreenplay Written Directly For the Screen by Neil Jordan Story: an Irish Republican Army (IRA) soldier who befriends a British soldier when he and his allies are holding hostage20Quotes Jody (telling Fergus a story): “ and as they both sink beneath the waves, the frog cries

13、 out, Why did you sting me, Mr. Scorpion? For now we both will drown! Scorpion replies, I cant help it. Its in my nature!”213. MusicVan Morrison Northern Irish singer and songwriter, one of the leading stars of rock music during the 1960s Morrisons work blends jazz, rhythm-and-blues (R&B), and C

14、eltic folk music with lyric poetry and traditional Irish ballads. In 1993 into the Rock and Roll Hall of FameOther Irish artists U2; the Corrs; the Cranberries; Enya /en j/ 22Irish Rock Band U2 U2 vocalist Bono 23E. Economy of Northern Ireland 1. Poorest region of the UK since 1950sSuffering from th

15、e post-1969 political violenceInvestment discouraged by troubles Insignificant in the UK2. low living costs but good living standards 243. industries Aircraft manufacturer; parts manufacturers the UKs largest shipbuilders Belfast shipyards built many of the ships that conveyed British and Irish migr

16、ants to North America from 1860 to 1914. The ill-fated Titanic was built in Belfast.2526The sinking of the The sinking of the TitanicTitanic dominated the front-page headlines of the dominated the front-page headlines of the New York TimesNew York Times on April 16, 1912. on April 16, 1912. History

17、of Northern Ireland A. “Great hatred, little room” B. History before Northern IrelandC. A partition of Ireland in 1921 27A. “Great hatred, little room” 1. A colonial history of conflict 2. Great hatred, little room 3. Modern poet W. B. Yeats 281. A colonial history of conflict Key element in Norther

18、n Irelands history The nature of its link to Great Britain a long and bloody conflict as the result of Irelands colonial history 29700 years of British rule Normans rule to home rule From 12th century to 19th century Protestant rule From the time of Queen Elizabeth I (late 1590s)English settlers and

19、 Protestants took the land, position and privileges of the original, Roman Catholic population. 302. Great hatred, little room a. the systematic and deep-rooted hatred based on a vivid history of massacre, exile, systematic repression, and deprivation. It was so great that it became particular in Ir

20、ish culture even today. b. the island of Ireland is a small placeDeprivation of one part of population and privileges of the other was highly visible and offensive. 313. Modern poet W. B. Yeats William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) Irish poet and dramatistHe received the Nobel Prize in 1923. a leader of

21、the Irish Renaissance one of the foremost writers of the 20th century“Great hatred, little room” He wrote “This blind bitter land” to refer to Ireland. 32Out of Ireland have we come. Great hatred, little room, Maimed us at the start. I carry from my mothers womb A fanatic heart. The Winding Stair an

22、d Other Poems, Remorse for Intemperate Speech33B. History before Northern Ireland1. Before the British colonial rule 2. The British colonial rule 341. Before the British colonial rule a. About 6000 B.C. the first people from the European mainlandb. About 400 B.C. Celtic tribes from Britain and the E

23、uropean mainland invaded Ireland.c. In the 400s A.D. Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland.d. About 795 Vikings began raiding the east and south coasts of Ireland. e. In 1014 the Irish high king organized several kingdoms and defeated the Vikings.35Saint Patricks legend three leaves of the s

24、hamrock Saint Patrick used them to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. He drove the snakes out of Ireland.36Saint Patricks Day Patrick the saint The Irish accepted Christianity and came to regard Patrick as their patron (guardian) saint.March 17 a national holiday in Ireland. It is also c

25、elebrated by people of Irish descent in many other countries, especially by Irish Americans in the USA. 372. the British colonial rule a. Norman invasion b. Protestant settlement c. Union with Britaind. Campaign for Irish independence 38a. Norman invasion King of Leinster In 1171, a Norman baron nam

26、ed Strongbow declared himself king of Leinster /lentst/. Other Norman barons then also seized Irish land. Ireland held by Normans By the 1300s, the Normans held nearly all of Ireland. 3940b. Protestant settlementIn 1541, Henry VIII became king of Ireland. The Reformation had little effect on Ireland

27、. English rule there was ineffective, and most Irish people remained Catholics. Queen Mary Is Plantation of Ireland She tried to strengthen English rule. She seized land in central Ireland and gave it to English settlers.41The time of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603 ) She attempted to establish Protest

28、antism and outlawed Roman Catholic services. But as a result, the Irish Catholics became more united and more bitterly anti-English than ever.In 1607 James I gave land to Protestants Local Irish chieftains opposing the English fled from Ulster. James I gave the land to English and Scottish Protestan

29、ts. This action was partly responsible for the Protestant majority found in Northern Ireland today.42Puritan ruler of England Oliver Cromwell He crushed the Ireland revolt in 1649. Cromwell then gave even more land to English Protestants and deprived the Catholics of many political rights.By 1704, C

30、atholics held only about 1/7 of the land. Catholics also were forbidden to purchase or inherit land. They were excluded from the Irish Parliament and the army, and were restricted in their rights to practice Catholicism.43c. Union with BritainIn 1801, the Act of Union took effect. This act abolished

31、 the Irish Parliament and created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Life During the 1800s Northern Ireland: The standard of living in rose as manufacturing flourished. Southern Ireland, where most of the Catholics lived, had a low living standard due to unequal distribution of land an

32、d a growing population.44d. Campaign for Irish independence (1) Political campaign for “home-rule”(2) Direct method 45(1) Political campaign for “home-rule”Home-rule Irish political control of Irish affairs Ulster Protestants opposed the plan because of the fear that such a parliament would be Catho

33、lic The 1st and 2nd Home Rule Bill were defeated in the British Parliament. The 3rd was passed in 1914 but suspended due to the world war I. The 4th Home Rule Bill Act in 1920 created two home rule parliaments: one in Belfast with 6 counties; and one in Dublin with 26 counties in southern Ireland. 4

34、6(2) Direct method What is direct method?Guerilla or terrorist activities against British institutions and the British military forces There have been centuries of discontent and numerous rebellions.47The Easter Rising of 1916on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916The chief objectives political freedom the

35、 establishment of an Irish republicThe result The rebels took over Dublins Post Office. The British executed 15 republican leaders48IRA and Sinn Fein the Irish Republican Army (IRA) a group that has sometimes used violence in trying to free Ireland, and, later, Northern Ireland, from British rule. T

36、he Sinn Fein party an Irish nationalist political party The Gaelic words mean “Ourselves Alone”. Sinn Fein helped achieve an independent Irish republic. Today characterized as the political arm of the IRA 49C. A partition of Ireland in 1921 1. Historical background a. Historical difference b. Religi

37、ous issues 2. Independence of southern Ireland3. the state of Northern Ireland 50a. Historical differenceIrish people vs. British peopleIreland was not invaded by the Romans or settled by the Anglo-Saxons.Ancient Warriors The Irish fought bravely against the Vikings. 51British people vs. Irish peopl

38、e in Northern Ireland In the 17th century immigrants from Scotland and England were encouraged by the English government lived in Northern IrelandThey thought of themselves as British and wished to remain a part of the British state. 52b. Religious issues Catholics vs. Protestantsmost Irish people r

39、emained Catholics, while most British people had become Protestants.Catholics vs. Protestants in Northern Irelandsettlement of Protestants brought the conflicts and hindrance to complete independenceBackground (1) Split of Christianity (2) Religious reformation(3) religious influence in Ireland 53(1

40、) Split of Christianity Background: Roman empire split in 395 the West and East Empire West ended in 476 and East in 1453Christianity split Western and Eastern Church Eastern Orthodox vs. the Roman Catholic 54(2) Religious reformationReligious Reformation in Europe In 1517, a movement called the Ref

41、ormation began. The Reformation divided Western Christianity into the Roman Catholic Church and Protestantism. Europe was divided into Catholic south and Protestant North. Religious Reformation in England during the 1530s, King Henry VIII influenced Parliament to end the Popes authority in England a

42、nd recognize the king as the supreme head of the Church in England. England became Protestant.55(3) religious influence in Ireland Catholic Ireland vs. Protestant England Ireland remained the Catholic country. Roman Catholic has been banned and persecuted in England.Religious conflict in Northern Ir

43、eland Protestant settlement and Catholic persecution divided the people into rival political, social, and cultural groups. The dispute between Protestants and Roman Catholics led to the troubles.56Political conflict in Northern IrelandThe Protestants thought of themselves as British and wished to re

44、main a part of the British state. They could not go back to Britain and dont accept union with Ireland which is Catholic. 572. Independence of southern IrelandBackground Catholics in Ireland want to be independent. Protestants in the north want to be British. Compromise: A partition of Ireland in 19

45、21a. the 4th home rule bill act in 1920b. Anglo-Irish Treaty in 192158a. the 4th home rule bill act in 1920Government of Ireland Act In 1920Ireland divided into 2 states the Northern Ireland with 6 Ulster counties 26 (3 in Ulster) in the southern Ireland Each state to remain part of the UKEach with

46、some powers of self-government59b. Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921Background Southern Catholics rejected the act and demanded complete independence for a single, united Irish republic. Southern Ireland began fighting for complete independence. Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921 Southern Ireland became the Irish

47、Free State, a dominion (self-governing country) of the British Commonwealth. 700 years of British rule in southern Ireland ended. 60Further study of the Irish Free State In 1937, the Irish Free State adopted a new constitution and changed its name to Eire /er/(in Gaelic) or Ireland (in English). In

48、1949, Ireland cut all ties with the United Kingdom and became an independent republic. 613. the state of Northern Ireland the home rule under the 1920 Act own governor, parliament, prime minister, and cabinet in Northern Ireland . Local powers and central powers62Stormont CastleThe local government

49、known as Stormont, in the suburb of Belfastthe headquarters of the secretary of state for Northern Irelanda representative of the British government63 Conflicts and Hopes in Northern IrelandA. Troubles in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland conflicts since 1969 Paramilitary ceasefire in 1994 definitiv

50、e symbolic closure in 1998 a power-sharing government in 2007B. Towards Solutions in Northern Ireland C. Hopes and future in Northern Ireland 64A. Troubles in Northern Ireland 1. Troubles in 1970s: armed conflicts a. background to the troubles b. development of the troubles 2. Results of the trouble

51、s a. Distrust and hatred “ghettoized areas” b. Norths culture of revenge killings c. Armed conflict causalities 65a. background to the troubles(1) Loyalist/Unionist vs. Republican(2) Protestant dominance(3) Civil Rights Movement (4) Government inactivity 66(1) Loyalist/Unionist vs. RepublicanLoyalis

52、ts or Unionists nearly 60% in Northern Ireland Loyal to the British Crown For union with Great Britain Protestants Republicans and nationalists for an independent Irish Republic Roman Catholics67(2) Protestant dominanceProtestant dominance Political: Unionist Party controlled the government. The Pro

53、testants controlled the local parliament. Economic and social: they use political power to support their own economic and social dominance in the province Religious: 2/3 of the population are Protestants.Catholics were dominated 40% of the population were Catholic Irish Persecution, segregation and

54、dissatisfaction 68(3) Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Movement in the US the national campaign by African Americans for equal rights in the 1950s and 1960s The Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Voting Rights Act of 1965Civil Rights Movement in the Northern Ireland Catholics claimed that Protestants v

55、iolated their civil rights and discriminated against them in jobs, housing, and other areas. They felt like the Blacks discriminated in the US and followed their strategy: pacifist; marches; speeches; sit-ins 69(4) Government inactivity The Problematic majority rule The Northern Ireland political st

56、ructure set by the British government emphasized majority rule. It offered no encouragement to the governing party to seek out the middle ground. No Government efforts to solve the problem Neither the British government nor the new Northern Irish government made any effort to achieve reconciliation

57、between Protestants and Catholics. 70b. development of the troubles (1) Riots between Catholics and ProtestantsThe Catholics also began a Civil Rights Movement. Protestants began to organize counter-demonstration.(2) the IRA vs. Protestant Paramilitary71the IRA and Sinn Fein In 1921 after Anglo-Iris

58、h Treaty, both the IRA and Sinn Fein split. In 1970s, IRA and Sinn Fein split again. Provisional Sinn Fein was established to run candidates for political office. The Provisional IRA began a guerilla war and adopted terrorist tactics against the British Army and Protestant militants.72Protestant Par

59、amilitary The Protestants formed their own illegal “Paramilitary” groups.They took revenge on Catholics, often murdering individuals at random. 732. Results of the troubles a. Distrust and hatredSectarian distrust and downright hatred was intensified. The violence created Catholic and Protestant ghe

60、ttoes in Northern Ireland. 74“ghettoized areas”The Catholics and Protestants lived exclusively in separated areas, and these areas became ghettoized areas. The children even attended separate schools and the two communities could hardly mix.75b. Norths culture of revenge killings A pattern of “tit-for-t