Betty+Williams

Nobel Peace Prize Recipiant of 1976
Part 1: Betty Williams was a citizen of Ireland during an extremely tumultuous time. Beggining in the 17th century, Ireland has dealt with intense conflicts between protestants and catholics. Both groups have engaged in many battles for power and control over the other, which has been potitical and violent in nature. Betty Williams was part of the more current disagreement in Northern Ireland, named "the troubles." During this time people not only argued about the religious nature of Ireland, but also the constitutional position of Ireland. Luckily for Ireland, strong women, such as Betty Williams and Mairread Corrigan, fought for the peace that Ireland's citizens desperately needed. They founded the Peace Movement after Betty witnessed the tragic death of three children and republican man in a car accident. Betty then came to the realization that the violence in her home of Ireland must come to an end. Betty used her own initative and obtained 6000 signatures of a peace petition. Through this she not only gained supporters, but also the media attention to reach other Ireland citizens who were desiring peace. She successfully organized a group called "The Community for Peace People," which marched and petitioned 10,000 people strong. Betty Williams recieved the nobel peace prize for her display of peace in 1976.

Part 2: When conducting research on the happenings of Betty Williams time, and the turmoil in Ireland, it illustrated stiking simiarities to the diving of the North and South during America's civil war and the civil rights movments in the south. Students are very familiar with the civil rights movement in the United States; therefore, I think it might make an interesting metaphor to compare the two events, in order to help the students understand. To begin I would give students each their own map of Ireland without the line present that divided Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. As a class we would review this website, [], and discuss what the Goverment of Ireland Act of 1920 was, what it was did, and why it was made. Within this document, the countries which consisted within the area deemed "Northern Ireland" were named. I would write these counties names on the board and, I would instruct students to draw the division of Northern and Southern Ireland on their maps. By doing it themselves, as opposed to giving students a map with the line drawn, the division will resinate more in their minds. Next I will ask students if they recall events that took place during the civil rights movments in the United States. Students will probably recall protests, petitions, sit ins, ect. Then I will tell students that after this division, Ireland experienced a similar civil rights movement, except, instead of it being primarily racial, it was religious in nature. At this time I will tell students that at their tables they are going to conduct 10 minutes of research (with notes) on the Civil rights movment of the 1970s in Ireland. After this time, as a class we will discuss the similaries and differences of the the civil rights movement of Ireland to the civil rights movement of the United States. If students do not mention Martin Luther King Jr. in this discussion, I will prompt them by asking if there was anymore present in the civil rights movment in Ireland that played a similar role as MLK Jr.? From here I will discuss Betty Williams and Mairread Corrigan and their creatiion of the Community for Peace People. In order to gauge student understanding, I would have students complete a venn diagram for homework comparing and contrasting the two civil rights movements and events before and after. Students should be able to explain the events leading up to the movement, including the division of Ireland which will touch on geography, as well as influential people and policies. The venn diagram will take the place of a formal assessment.