President Biden Commemorates 25 Years of Peace in Ireland
Ask Students: Where is PResident Biden currently traveling? Why did he travel there? What anniversary does the visit mark?
Summary
President Biden is on a four-day tour of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The pact ended decades of conflict in Ireland known as The Troubles. But the president’s visit comes at a moment of political and economic uncertainty. Nick Schifrin discussed the trip with Duncan Morrow of Ulster University in Belfast.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
Key Terms
Brexit - A combination of “Britain” and “exit,” Brexit is the name given to Great Britain’s move to leave the European Union. Because Northern Ireland is politically part of Great Britain and the country of Ireland remains in the European Union, Brexit has caused
The Troubles - A name given to conflict in Northern Ireland between minority Catholic groups who favored unification with independent Ireland and Protestants who wanted to remain close to England and as part of Great Britain. After decades of violence, a peace agreement called the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998.
Dicussion Questions
- Where is Biden currently traveling?
- Why did President Biden travel to Ireland?
- What anniversary does the visit mark?
- How has Biden sought to promote peace through this trip?
- Who is interviewed in this story, and what is his background?
Focus Questions
Do you think U.S. presidents can have a constructive role in helping resolve conflicts in other countries? Why or why not?
Media Literacy: Were you able to learn anything you didn’t already know about Ireland and Great Britain from this story? If so, what?
Extension Activity
As a class, read about a recent attack and then discuss the photo in the article here. Start by answering the questions, “Where does this appear to be taking place?” “Who is in the photograph” and “What do they appear to be doing?” If you aren’t sure, you can examine the caption. Why do you think these individuals attacked a police vehicle? Why would they want to disrupt peace agreements?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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