The Irish Potato Famine 1845-1850
Causes In 1845 a new fungus-like organism struck the Irish potato crop. The Latin name for it is phytophthora infestans (Potato Blight). The Irish depended too much on potatoes so when the potato blight came they had nothing to eat and many died of starvation. Ireland continued to export large amounts of food for example peas, beans, fish and grain to Great Britain so the Irish had nothing else to eat when the potato crop failed. Due to subdivision the farmers were left with very small amounts of land.
What happened during the famine? During the famine the potato crop failed from 1845-1850. The first potato blight was in 1845 when 1/3 of the potato crop was destroyed. In 1846 the blight hit the crops again and the failure was complete, death was widespread. The next year there was a good harvest although the crop was smaller than usual. The potato blight hit again in 1848. The potato blight did not reach the islands on Lough Erne, so the inhabitants of the islands continued to have a good potato crop during the famine. The famine was thought to be over be 1850.
The British Government's Response Many people believe the Government’s response to the famine was inadequate overall. The prime minister Sir Robert Peel continued to allow the export of grain from Ireland to Great Britain. But he tried to help by ordering corn from America to Ireland. Peel’s successor Lord John Russell adopted a policy of laissez - faire towards the famine. Some measures introduced to help the Irish included workhouses, soup kitchens and public works schemes.
Emigration Emigration during the famine years was primarily to England, Scotland, Wales, North America and Australia. It is thought that around 1 million people emigrated from Ireland at this time. Many people sailed to America on “coffin ships” and many died before they got to America due to overcrowding, poor food and diseases on the ships. Many Irish emigrants were unprepared for life in a big city like New York or London and suffered poverty, unemployment and addiction.
Death Statistics It is estimated that over 1 million people died during the famine. Many people died due to starvation and others died due to diseases for example typhus, dysentery, cholera, smallpox and influenza. In 1851 the population was down by almost 2 million from the previous census in 1841. Half of this number had died the rest had emigrated.
Long Term Results Population decline - Approx 1 million people died and 1 million emigrated. Population continued to decline during the rest of the 1800s. Land Holdings – Many tenants stopped the process of subdivision so the number of larger farms increased. Changes in marriage patterns – People got married when they were older and this led to a decline in birth rate. Political effects – The Irish became even more bitter towards the English because of the way they were treated during the famine.
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