The conflict in Ireland or the "troubles" did not erupt on any set date, rather it emerged as a result of conflicting religious beliefs, in conjunction with a struggle for political control. Many Irish Catholics are Nationalist in political view; meaning they would like to see Ireland reunited and independent of Britain. Most Protestants consider themselves to be British and are Unionist in political view, meaning they want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. The struggle for both Religious and Political control sparked a violent conflict in Northern Ireland, spanning three decades and taking the lives of thousands. The conflict dates back to the early 17th century when Protestant, Scottish/English settlers moved to the north-east of Ireland to take ownership of land. The native Irish who were forced from their land were Catholic and culturally Irish. There was great public outcry from the Irish. The Irish population were subjected to an oppressive British rule for almost two centuries; it was not until the late 1960s, that there was massive civil rights movements and eventual violent conflict. The Irish Catholics felt they were being persecuted by the Protestants; they were not allowed to practice their religion freely, enter politics or have mass. Due to the repressive British rule exercised upon the Irish Catholics, they felt they needed to retaliate and rebel. The Acts of Union 1800 united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, abolishing the Irish Parliament and giving Ireland representation at Westminster. This act aggravated many Irish nationalists and was described as an exploitation of the country. This was one of the first cases of political dispute in Ireland. The Easter Sunday was as a result of both political and religious dispute. Michael Collins sparked the IRA revolt out of the desire to liberate Ireland from the British