Ethnic Conflicts in the World Today Northern Ireland
...years. Although unsuccessful in its attempt to overthrow the British it created great Republican sympathy across the country after the army executed the main leaders of the rebellion following a mock trial that was not even approved by the legitimate authorities. There followed in 1919 the Irish War of Independence, which the British called a truce to in 1921 after huge losses. In 1922 the Free State of Ireland came about after a treaty which kept the six northern counties under British control. This is now known as Northern Ireland and the Free State became the Republic in 1949. The Problems in Northern Ireland in Recent Years On January 30, 1972, soldiers from the British Army's 1st Parachute Regiment opened fire on unarmed and peaceful civilian demonstrators in the Bogside, Derry, Ireland, near the Ros...