The Irish Potato Famine of 1845-1849 was caused by a fungus that destroyed potato crops, leading to the deaths of thousands of Irish people. The British government’s discrimination against Catholics and failure to effectively curb hunger contributed to the tragedy. The famine also led to mass emigration, reducing Ireland’s population from nearly seven million to just over four million. The causes of the famine included reliance on one crop and the reduction of land holdings for Catholic families. Inadequate welfare systems and unsuccessful work schemes worsened the situation. The end of the famine was attributed to population decline from starvation or emigration, as well as food and funds sent by Britain, though some Irish still harbor enmity towards Britain because of it.
The Irish Potato Famine occurred in the years 1845-1849. A fungus on potato crops, which essentially destroyed the crops, mainly caused it. Those who had little land to begin with and small food supplies depended on this crop as their main source of food. Thus the death of the crop resulted in the deaths of thousands of Irish people.
There has been 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. Estimates range from 500,000 to 1.5 million deaths from the hunger. Because of the British government’s discrimination against Catholics, measures to curb hunger were not employed as effectively as needed.
Unlike other famine episodes, the Potato Famine occurred in a country at the height of its social and political power. So it can be clearly stated that government failure is a causal factor for some of the deaths that occur.
In addition, the potato famine initiated the mass emigration of the Irish to Canada, the United States and Australia. About 1.5 to two million people emigrated. Thus the Irish population was reduced from a figure of nearly seven million to just over four million. The numbers are shocking at first glance. As a result of the famine, Ireland lost nearly a third of its population. The deaths themselves account for about 10-20% of the total population.
Many of the causes of the famine are fairly well known. Many had little land and relying on just one crop is always risky. The land of Ireland is made up of many areas, such as marshes and sheer cliffs that are simply not arable, thus reducing the ability to produce a sustainable crop.
Prior to the Potato Famine, the British had continually reduced land holdings by declaring that no Roman Catholic could pass on his entire estate to his eldest son. Traditionally large families had to repeatedly subdivide property to distribute property evenly among the children. Thus the families who 50 years before the famine would have owned large estates now owned very small ones. Many barely had enough land before the potato famine to produce adequate food.
Additionally, there were inadequate welfare systems set up before the potato famine. There were few poorhouses, and those poorhouses that did exist required a person to relinquish their land to the government.
Britain attempted to establish work schemes to help the Irish buy needed food. These programs have been abandoned. They were unsuccessful largely because pay was given on a weekly basis. Most were too weak from hunger to work for a week. Many died in the trenches or streets they were attempting to dig without ever receiving a paycheck.
Most attribute the end of the potato famine to population decline from starvation or emigration. Britain had also sent food and funds to Ireland. Again however the Irish were taxed for this support, and this further impoverished some of them. This destabilization of the population decreased the demand for food and new potato crops were successfully grown. Some Irish, however, cite the potato famine as a reason for continued enmity with Britain.
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