Northern Ireland - August 1968 to February 1969

Northern Ireland - August 1968 to February 1969

1. 24 August 1968 - NICRA 1st march- Coalisland to Dungannon

2. 5 October 1968 - Violent march in Londonderry

   • Gained global support

3. 22 November 1968 - Five Point Programme announced

   • Points system housing allocation
   • Replacement of Londonderry Corporation by DC
   • Removal of parts of SPA
   • Ombudsman for complaints
   • Reforms (eg: no more extra votes for businesses

4. 9 December 1968 - "Crossroads" Speech on TV by O'Neill

   • Marches called off
   • Dismayed Unionists (under threat)
   • Party opposition (eg: Craig "Acting under GB pressure)

5. 1 to 4 January 1969 - PD march = Burntollet Violence

   • NICRA started marching
   • Established Cameron Commission
     • 2 Cabinet Ministers resign (inc. B. Faulkner)
   • 12 MPs calling for resign on 30 January
     • "Crossroads" Election announced

6. 24 February 1969 - Election

   • Fall in Unionist support
   • No "Catholic" support for the hand
   • O'Neill had won over Paisley by 1400 votes in Bannside
   • O'Neill resigned on 29 April 1969