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The IRA had many supporters within the United States of America.

Terrorism Since 1969: The Provisional IRA To 1998

This GCSE History quiz explores the Provisional IRA’s campaign from 1969 to 1998, including aims, tactics, and how violence, protest, and politics affected the Northern Ireland peace process.

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Fascinating Fact:

Hunger strikes in 1980-81, especially the death of Bobby Sands, drew international attention. They strengthened Republican support in some areas but horrified others.

In GCSE History, you examine why the Provisional IRA emerged in 1969, how it used violence and political campaigning, and how governments responded in the lead up to the 1998 Agreement.

Key Terms

Provisional IRA: A Republican paramilitary organisation that used armed struggle in an attempt to end British rule in Northern Ireland.
Hunger strike: A form of protest where prisoners refuse food to gain political recognition or change in policy.
Ceasefire: An agreed pause in violence between opposing groups, often used as a step towards political talks.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What was the Provisional IRA and what did it want?

The Provisional IRA was a Republican paramilitary group that aimed to remove British authority from Northern Ireland and create a united Ireland, using both violence and political pressure.

How did the hunger strikes of 1980-81 affect the conflict?

The hunger strikes drew worldwide attention and increased support for Republican politics in some areas, while also shocking many people and highlighting the human cost of the conflict.

When did the Provisional IRA end its campaign of violence?

The Provisional IRA declared a major ceasefire in the 1990s and later confirmed that its armed campaign was over, which helped create the conditions for the Good Friday Agreement.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

What nickname was given to the prison where most paramilitaries were held - newly built outside Belfast, and having a distinctive shape when viewed from the air?

The H blocks

The E blocks

The T blocks

The F blocks

Loyalist and Republican prisoners were separated - hence the need for different blocks

2 .

After 1976 Republican prisoners demanded to be treated as "Prisoners of War" and not as ordinary criminals. They launched a campaign in furtherance of this objective called the "blanket protest". What did this involve?

Refusing to wear prison uniform, and insisting on wearing only the blankets issued to keep them warm at night

Refusing to wear anything - they regarded the blankets as a form of unacceptable prison uniform

Agreeing to wear prison issue underwear, but only wearing blankets on top

Agreeing to wear prison uniform, but sewing badges of rank on top - made from the blankets supplied by the prison

When it was clear that the British government would not give in, the protesters decided to embark on hunger strikes

3 .

A remaining stumbling block was the question of paramilitary weapons. The word "de-commissioning" was frequently used to describe what should be done with them as a condition of a settlement. What does "de-commissioning" mean?

All weapons to be handed over to the British security authorities

All weapons to be handed over to the United Nations

All weapons to be put manifestly "beyond use", but to remain under IRA control

All weapons to be totally destroyed under supervision

The question of IRA arms was a tricky one: Republicans were reluctant to abandon their arms in case the armed struggle was to resume but Loyalists were hesitant to talk to Sinn Fein without an acceptable solution to the matter of weaponry

4 .

When did the ceasefire by the IRA occur that enabled the Good Friday talks to continue?

1996

1998

1997

1999

The IRA was still keen to take part in the talks

5 .

The PIRA had a political wing. What was it called?

The Social Democratic and Labour Party

Sinn Fein

The Alliance Party

The Irish National Independence Party

Gradually the political wing took a more prominent role - until eventually it appeared to have a different agenda from the military wing

6 .

The IRA split in 1969, when the Provisionals decided to embark on a campaign of "armed struggle" to force British troops to leave the Province. What was the name of the other faction that remained on ceasefire throughout?

The Official IRA

The Real IRA

The Continuity IRA

The Traditional IRA

The issue that led to the split was an ideological one. The PIRA's opponents were Marxists, who despised sectarianism and preferred to appeal to the working class on both sides of the communal divide

7 .

Which of the following terms was used to describe IRA members by Unionists, Alliance Party supporters and the SDLP?

Soldiers

Volunteers

Freedom Fighters

Terrorists

There was no agreement among the parties about a suitable term

8 .

The IRA's 1994 ceasefire broke down, and they resumed their bombing campaign on the British mainland. Which of the following English targets was attacked before the ceasefire was resumed?

The London Docklands

Harrods

Hyde Park

Brighton

Careful diplomacy was needed to coax the IRA back to the negotiating table

9 .

After 1981 IRA propaganda announced a new policy of "the ballot paper with one hand" and "the Armalite with the other". What was an Armalite?

A sub-machine gun made in the Soviet Union

A carbine produced in the United States

A portable bomb

A pistol manufactured in Scandinavia

The IRA could rely on several sources of weaponry - they had many supporters in the United States

10 .

In 1972 several Provisional leaders met a British cabinet minister in London to see whether any basis for a settlement existed. Who was the British minister involved?

Patrick Mayhew

Peter Brooke

William Whitelaw

Robert Carr

Neither side saw any point in continuing the conflict if there was a basis for compromise. In the event the Provisionals found that the terms which the British were prepared to concede fell far short of the Republicans' minimum demands

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Changing relations: Northern Ireland and its neighbours, 1965-98

Author: Edward Towne