The Potato Famine, or Blight, was first recorded August, 1845 in Dublin, Ireland. It was the beginning of the greatest famine Europe would face in the 19th century. In a mere five years the potato harvest failed four times. During the famine, “... over one million Irish perished and a further two million fled the land, never to return.” (Nally, David. “That Coming Storm”). In just under five years, three million people were either dead or had immigrated. Needless to say the Potato Famine forever scarred Ireland and changed her course in history. Researchers have discovered that the culprit that caused the famine was Phytophthora Infestans. In Latin, the name translates as “infesting plant destroyer”, and it is a fungus-like microorganism
…show more content…
The historian Arthur Young had written, like many others, that the Irish tenant farmers were, in effect, slaves:"A landlord in Ireland can scarcely invent an order which a laborer, servant, or cottier [tenant farmer] dares to refuse .... He may punish with his cane or his horsewhip with the most perfect security. A poor man would have his bones broken if he offered to lift a hand in his own defense." The free trade agreements forced on Ireland demanded that all the corn, wheat, barley, and oats Irish farmers grew were to be exported so that they could pay their rents. All crops became cash crops and there was nothing left for the Irish families to eat besides potatos. Even after the effects of the potato famine reached Britain, free trade remained unchanged. While money was not spared to aid the starving people of Ireland, the British spared no expense deploying troops to protect her export ships and other miscellaneous goods. Britan allowed the eviction of all farmers who were unable to make their rent payments, and the large landlords, led by British Foreign Minister Lord Palmerston, evicted their tenants mercilessly. Between 1849 and 1854 nearly 50,000 families were evicted. Sadly, eviction was not necessary the worst penalty for not being able to pay rent. Tenants could be jailed or even burned for failure to meet their …show more content…
Not to mention the lives lost by those traveling by sea, in less than human conditions, to the New World. However, a consequence still seen today in Ireland, was the social unrest it brought. The Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848 was one of many failed nationalistic revolts to come. It was generally felt by the Irish that the government had very much abandoned them during the Famine. Social unrest continued turning violent, and many began to envision an Ireland free from British control. While the Potato Famine cannot be completely credited with the Republic of Ireland as it is today, it certainly set fire to nationalistic ideas still held by the Irish
The historian Arthur Young had written, like many others, that the Irish tenant farmers were, in effect, slaves:"A landlord in Ireland can scarcely invent an order which a laborer, servant, or cottier [tenant farmer] dares to refuse .... He may punish with his cane or his horsewhip with the most perfect security. A poor man would have his bones broken if he offered to lift a hand in his own defense." The free trade agreements forced on Ireland demanded that all the corn, wheat, barley, and oats Irish farmers grew were to be exported so that they could pay their rents. All crops became cash crops and there was nothing left for the Irish families to eat besides potatos. Even after the effects of the potato famine reached Britain, free trade remained unchanged. While money was not spared to aid the starving people of Ireland, the British spared no expense deploying troops to protect her export ships and other miscellaneous goods. Britan allowed the eviction of all farmers who were unable to make their rent payments, and the large landlords, led by British Foreign Minister Lord Palmerston, evicted their tenants mercilessly. Between 1849 and 1854 nearly 50,000 families were evicted. Sadly, eviction was not necessary the worst penalty for not being able to pay rent. Tenants could be jailed or even burned for failure to meet their …show more content…
Not to mention the lives lost by those traveling by sea, in less than human conditions, to the New World. However, a consequence still seen today in Ireland, was the social unrest it brought. The Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848 was one of many failed nationalistic revolts to come. It was generally felt by the Irish that the government had very much abandoned them during the Famine. Social unrest continued turning violent, and many began to envision an Ireland free from British control. While the Potato Famine cannot be completely credited with the Republic of Ireland as it is today, it certainly set fire to nationalistic ideas still held by the Irish