Why were British troops sent to Northern Ireland in 1969

The essay is about the reasons why the government decided to send in the British troops to Northern Ireland on the 14th August 1969, we look here at the origins and the history of the conflict.

The most obvious reasons we think of are that riots started to break out and the Northern Ireland police lost control, this was because from the beginning, Catholics in Northern Ireland were a disadvantaged minority in matters of employment, housing, education, cultural and political participation. In 1968 a civil rights movement emerged to protest against this discrimination, often provoking violent reactions within the Protestant community. The Catholics were greatly influenced by Dr Martin Luther King, and the American Civil Rights Movements which were going on at about the same time.

Protestants also had fears, they would have to share there economy with the rest of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church would interfere in the running of the country. Also they maybe threatened with viol...