Question

Difficulty: MediumThe 1990s: Good Friday Agreement and Devolution

The late 1990s saw significant constitutional reforms across the United Kingdom, including the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. By what other name is this agreement known, and what was its primary goal regarding the governance of Northern Ireland?

  1. The Belfast Agreement; to establish a power-sharing government and advance the peace process.Answer
  2. B
    The Edinburgh Agreement; to grant the Scottish Parliament the power to pass primary legislation.
  3. C
    The Cardiff Accord; to establish the National Assembly for Wales with tax-varying powers.
  4. D
    The London Treaty; to return Northern Ireland to direct rule from the UK Parliament.

Answer

The correct answer is the Belfast Agreement, which aimed to establish a power-sharing government and advance the peace process.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998 and also known as the Belfast Agreement, was the cornerstone of the Northern Ireland peace process. Its primary goal was to end 'the Troubles' by establishing a devolved government where power is shared between different political communities.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the geographical focus of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The agreement specifically addressed the political situation and peace process in Northern Ireland.
Understanding the regional context helps distinguish it from devolution in Scotland or Wales.
2
Recall the alternative name for the Good Friday Agreement.
It is widely known as the Belfast Agreement.
Official documents often use both names to refer to the 1998 settlement.
3
Determine the primary constitutional outcome for Northern Ireland.
The establishment of a power-sharing executive and assembly.
This was the core mechanism designed to ensure representation for both unionist and nationalist communities.

Key Concept

The Good Friday Agreement (1998)

Hints

1
Think about the city where the major talks for the Northern Ireland peace process were held.
2
The agreement was signed in 1998, one year after the referendums in Scotland and Wales.
3
The agreement is named after the capital city of Northern Ireland and focused on sharing power between communities.

Practice More

Review the specific powers granted to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 to understand how they differ from the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Estimated Time:45s
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