GCSE History | Terrorism and the Irish Republican Army or IRA

History Quiz - Terrorism Since 1969: The Provisional IRA To 1998 (Questions)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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'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

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

[ ]	1996
[ ]	1998
[ ]	1997
[ ]	1999

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

10.

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

[ ]	Soldiers
[ ]	Volunteers
[ ]	Freedom Fighters
[ ]	Terrorists

History Quiz - Terrorism Since 1969: The Provisional IRA To 1998 (Answers)

[x]	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

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
[x]	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

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

[ ]	The Social Democratic and Labour Party
[x]	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

[x]	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

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?

[x]	The H blocks
[ ]	The E blocks
[ ]	The T blocks
[ ]	The F blocks

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

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
[x]	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

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?

[x]	The London Docklands
[ ]	Harrods
[ ]	Hyde Park
[ ]	Brighton

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

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

[ ]	1996
[ ]	1998
[x]	1997
[ ]	1999

The IRA was still keen to take part in the talks

[ ]	All weapons to be handed over to the British security authorities
[ ]	All weapons to be handed over to the United Nations
[x]	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

10.