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What Was the Irish Potato Famine?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

The Irish Potato Famine occurred during the years 1845-1849. A fungus on the crops of potatoes, which essentially destroyed the crops, primarily caused it. Those who had little land to begin with and small food supplies depended upon this crop as their main food source. Thus the death of the crop translated to deaths in the thousands of the Irish people.

There is no clear record of the number of deaths from the Potato Famine since members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) destroyed most church records in 1922. The estimates range from 500,000, to 1.5 million deaths due to starvation. Because of the discrimination against Catholics by the British government, measures to stem the starvation were not employed as effectively as was needed.

Unlike other incidences of famine, the Potato Famine occurred in a country at the height of its social and political power. Thus it can be clearly stated that failure on the part of the government is a causal factor for some of the deaths occurring.

A blight ruined the Irish potato crop from 1845 to 1849.
A blight ruined the Irish potato crop from 1845 to 1849.

As well, the Potato Famine began the mass emigration of the Irish to Canada, the US, and Australia. Approximately 1.5 to two million people emigrated. Thus the Irish population was reduced from a figure of close to seven million to one of slightly over four million. The numbers are shocking upon inspection. As a result of the famine, Ireland lost nearly one-third of its population. The deaths themselves account for about 10-20% of the population in total.

Flag of Ireland.
Flag of Ireland.

Much of the causes for the famine are fairly well known. Many had too little land, and relying on a single crop is always risky. Ireland’s land consists of many areas, like bogs and sheer rock that are simply not arable, thus reducing the ability to produce a sustainable crop.

Prior to the Potato Famine, the British declaring that no Roman Catholic could transmit his whole estate to the eldest son had continually reduced landholdings. Traditionally large families had to subdivide estates repeatedly to evenly distribute the property between sons. Thus families who might have held large estates 50 years before the famine, now held very small ones. Many barely had enough land prior to the Potato Famine to produce adequate food.

Additionally, there were inadequate social welfare systems set up before the Potato Famine. There were few poorhouses, and those poorhouses that existed demanded that a person abandon their land to the government.

The turmoil caused by the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-1849 contributed to cultural forces that led to Irish independence from the United Kingdom in the 20th Century.
The turmoil caused by the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-1849 contributed to cultural forces that led to Irish independence from the United Kingdom in the 20th Century.

Britain attempted to establish work programs to help the Irish buy necessary food. These programs were abandoned. They were unsuccessful largely because pay was given on a weekly basis. Most were too weak from starvation to work for a week. Many died in the trenches or roads they were attempting to dig without ever receiving one paycheck.

Most credit the end of the Potato Famine to the decline in population due to either death from starvation or emigration. Britain as well, had sent some food and funds to Ireland. Again, however, the Irish were taxed for this support, and this further impoverished some. This population destabilization did decrease demand for food, and new crops of potatoes were successfully grown. Some Irish, however, cite the Potato Famine as a reason for continued enmity with Britain.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent HistoricalIndex contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent HistoricalIndex contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon335560

Protestants died in the famine as well.

anon332852

Where did the potato famine begin?

anon273080

What did Australia have to offer to the Irish potato famine people?

anon96557

Because they ate them? Their main food source.

anon64807

i suppose that it was so frequently used because it was the only thing that their type of weather could grow properly.

anon64485

The IRA did not destroy church records. The Republicans in the Four Courts set the building alight, destroying civil records. Not church records.

anon31384

Why was the potato so important to the Irish?

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    • A blight ruined the Irish potato crop from 1845 to 1849.
      By: Andre
      A blight ruined the Irish potato crop from 1845 to 1849.
    • Flag of Ireland.
      By: searagen
      Flag of Ireland.
    • The turmoil caused by the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-1849 contributed to cultural forces that led to Irish independence from the United Kingdom in the 20th Century.
      By: juan35mm
      The turmoil caused by the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-1849 contributed to cultural forces that led to Irish independence from the United Kingdom in the 20th Century.