Politics & Society in Northern Ireland

Welfare State (education; health; housing)

2006 - During the period, 1949 – 1969, what was the impact of the welfare state on one or more of the following: education; health; housing?

2007 - What impact had the introduction of the welfare state to Northern Ireland on one or more of the following: education; health; housing?

2013 -How was Northern Ireland affected by developments in one or more of the following: education; health; housing?

2018 - During the period 1949‐1969, what was the significance of developments in education,   health and housing in Northern Ireland?

Apprentice Boys Of Derry & Coleraine

2006 - What was the contribution of the Apprentice Boys of Derry to the celebration of religious and cultural identity among that city’s unionist minority?

2008 - Why was the choice of Coleraine as the site for Northern Ireland’s second university controversial?

2009 - To what extent were the activities of the Apprentice Boys of Derry and/or the choice of Coleraine as the site of Northern Ireland’s second university divisive?

2012 - What was the significance of the Coleraine University controversy and/or the activities of the Apprentice Boys of Derry?

2012 - What was the significance for Northern Ireland of one or more of the following: religious affiliation and cultural identity; the Apprentice Boys of Derry; Seamus Heaney?

2016 - Why did controversy arise from the activities of the Apprentice Boys of Derry or the siting of a new university at Coleraine?

2017 - From your study of culture and religion in Northern Ireland, 1949‐1993, what did   you learn about one or more of the following: the Apprentice Boys of Derry;   ecumenism; cultural responses to the “Troubles”?

2018 - How did two of the following provoke controversy: the Apprentice Boys of Derry; the career of Bernadette Devlin; Margaret Thatcher and Northern Ireland? 

2019 - What was the Coleraine University controversy and in what ways did it contribute to tensions in Northern Ireland?

Agreements / Declarations

2007 - What was the importance of each of the following: the Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1985; the Downing Street Declaration, 1993?

2009 - What was the importance of one or more of the following: the Sunningdale Agreement, 1973; the Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1985; the Downing Street Declaration, 1993?

2014 - Which was more successful, the Sunningdale Agreement (1973) or the Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985)? Argue your case, referring to both.

2015 - What was the Sunningdale Agreement and why did the power-sharing executive, 1973-1974, collapse

2019 - What was the importance of two of the following: the Sunningdale Agreement (1973);   the Anglo‐Irish Agreement (1985); the Downing Street Declaration (1993)?

2020 - What was the Sunningdale Agreement and why did the power-sharing executive, 1973-1974, collapse?

2021 - What was the Sunningdale Agreement and why did the power-sharing executive, 1973-1974, collapse?

Ecumenism

2007 - What problems and opportunities did ecumenism present to society in Northern Ireland between 1965 and 1993?

2017 -From your study of culture and religion in Northern Ireland, 1949‐1993, what did you learn about one or more of the following: the Apprentice Boys of Derry;   ecumenism; cultural responses to the “Troubles”?

2019 - From your study of Northern Ireland, 1949‐1993, what did you learn about one or more of the following: religious affiliation and cultural identity; ecumenism; Ian Paisley?

Social and Economic

2008 - How successful was the government of Northern Ireland in responding to social and economic problems, 1949-1969?

2009 - What were the social and economic effects of the “Troubles”?

2014 - What were the main social and economic changes that took place in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993?

2015 - Would you agree that there was considerable social and economic change in Northern Ireland, 1949-1969, but that nothing changed politically?

2015 - In what ways did the “Troubles” have a social and economic impact and/or give rise to cultural responses

2016 - During the period 1949-1969, how successful was the government of Northern Ireland in responding to problems posed by the economy and/or community relations?

2017 - What were the main social and economic problems facing Northern Ireland, 1949‐1969,   and how effectively were they tackled?

2020 - During the period 1949-1969, how effectively did Northern Irish governments respond to the social and economic problems they faced?

2021 - What were key social and economic developments, 1949-1969?

Civil Rights

2008 - Why did the Civil Rights movement emerge in Northern Ireland and was it successful?

2017 - Why did the Civil Rights movement emerge in Northern Ireland and was it successful?

The Troubles

2008 - What moves were made towards finding a peaceful resolution of the “Troubles”, 1973-1993?

2012 - What political attempts were made to resolve the “Troubles”, 1969-1993?

2015 - In what ways did the “Troubles” have a social and economic impact and/or give rise to cultural responses

2018 - How did the “Troubles” erupt in 1969 and why did they last so long? 

Religion

2014 - How did the people of Northern Ireland express their religious affiliation and cultural identity, 1949-1993?

2019 - From your study of Northern Ireland, 1949‐1993, what did you learn about one or more of the following: religious affiliation and cultural identity; ecumenism; Ian Paisley?

Other Questions

2006 - Why was Direct Rule (from London) introduced, 1972, and why did it last so long?

2007 - Account for the fall of Stormont and for the collapse of the power-sharing executive, 1973- 1974.

2013 - What was the impact of Republican and Loyalist terrorism on Northern Ireland?

2021 - Divided societies are sometimes culturally productive. How true is this of Northern Ireland, 1949-1993?

Political Figures & Leaders of Northern Ireland

Terence O’Neill & Lord Brookeborough

2006 - What was the contribution of Terence O’Neill to the affairs of Northern Ireland during the period, 1949 – 1969?

2009 - Who was the more effective leader of Northern Ireland, Brookeborough or O’Neill? Argue your case, referring to both.

2012 - How effective was the contribution of Terence O’Neill to the affairs of Northern Ireland?

2015 - What was the contribution of Terence O’Neill and/or Ian Paisley to the affairs of Northern Ireland in the period up to 1993?

2017 - What was the contribution of Terence O’Neill and/or Ian Paisley to the affairs of Northern Ireland

2019 - To what extent did Terence O’Neill differ from Lord Brookeborough as leader of Northern Ireland? 

2021 - Would you agree that Terence O’Neill was a failure as a political leader? Argue your case.

Ian Paisley

2012 -What was the impact of one or more of the following on Northern Ireland up to 1993: Bernadette Devlin; Ian Paisley; Seamus Heaney?

2015 - What was the contribution of Terence O’Neill and/or Ian Paisley to the affairs of Northern Ireland in the period up to 1993?

2017 - What was the contribution of Terence O’Neill and/or Ian Paisley to the affairs of Northern Ireland

2019 - From your study of Northern Ireland, 1949‐1993, what did you learn about one or more of the following: religious affiliation and cultural identity; ecumenism; Ian Paisley?

2020 - What was the contribution of Ian Paisley to the affairs of Northern Ireland?

Brian Faulkner

2013 - What were Brian Faulkner’s strengths and weaknesses as a political leader?

2016 - What were the strengths and weaknesses of Brian Faulkner as a political leader?

2018 - Would you agree that Terence O’Neill and/or Brian Faulkner failed as a political leader?   Argue your case. 

Bernadette Devlin & Margaret Thatcher

2012 -What was the impact of one or more of the following on Northern Ireland up to 1993: Bernadette Devlin; Ian Paisley; Seamus Heaney?

2014 - What was the contribution to Northern Irish affairs of Bernadette Devlin and/or Margaret Thatcher?

2016 - What was the impact of one or more of the following on Northern Ireland: Bernadette Devlin; John Hume; Seamus Heaney

2018 - How did two of the following provoke controversy: the Apprentice Boys of Derry; the career of Bernadette Devlin; Margaret Thatcher and Northern Ireland? 

Other People

2012 -What was the impact of one or more of the following on Northern Ireland up to 1993: Bernadette Devlin; Ian Paisley; Seamus Heaney?

2013 -What was the significance for Northern Ireland of one or more of the following: religious affiliation and cultural identity; the Apprentice Boys of Derry; Seamus Heaney?

2016 - What was the impact of one or more of the following on Northern Ireland: Bernadette Devlin; John Hume; Seamus Heaney

2020 - During your study of Northern Ireland, 1949-1993, what did you learn about Seamus Heaney and/or cultural responses to the “Troubles”?