What was the most important consequence of the Irish Famine in 1845-1849?

1. What was the most important consequence of the Irish Famine in 1845-1849?

2. Objectives In this activity you will: • Learn the impact of the famine on Ireland. • Learn the different short-term and long-term consequences of the famine.

3. What was the most important consequence of the famine? • In 1845, the main source of food in Ireland was potatoes. • In 1846, three-quarters of the Irish potato crop was destroyed by a disease known as ‘blight’. • Between 1846-1847, Ireland experienced a harsh winter. • In 1847, the potato harvest was free from blight, but the crop was very small. • In 1848, the potato disease known as blight struck again. • In 1849, the potato blight ended and food supplies to Ireland improved, which helped end the ‘Great Famine’.

4. What was the most important consequence of the famine? • Historians often try to identify the most important consequence of a historical event. • After reading screens 5 and 6, sort the consequences into short-term and long-term consequences of the famine. • Explain which were of greatest significance in the history of Ireland. You need to explain your ideas clearly. • Read the following, as an example: ‘A very important consequence of the famine was that the British Government was blamed by many. Future generations saw the famine as an example of English persecution. This caused many Irish people to support Irish independence during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Even today, Northern Ireland still opposes political control from England’. • This would be an example of the significance of a long-term consequence.

5. What was the most important consequence of the famine? • In August 1846, blight struck again across all of Ireland and famine became widespread. • The whole country was affected. • With fewer people living in Ireland in the late 19C, living standards actually improved. More schools and houses were built. • Lord John Russell was the new Prime Minister in England. He believed the Government should not provide free food on a large scale to Ireland to prevent a famine. • He encouraged Irish landlords to help the poor. • Many landlords evicted tenants from their farms because they could no longer pay their rents. • About 1.5 million people emigrated. They moved to countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia. • Many immigrants became wealthy. They provided financial and political support to groups who opposed English rule.

6. What was the most important consequence of the famine? • An estimated one million Irish men, women and children starved to death between 1845-1849. • The British Government provided some relief in terms of setting up public work schemes. However, this did not prevent widespread starvation. • Many Irish nationalists believed the British Government deliberately allowed the Irish population to starve to death. • Many landlords converted their land to pastoral farming. Ireland became less dependent on the potato crop. Larger farms were created, which were more efficient and grew a variety of crops. • The British Government, led by Peel in 1846, imported cheap corn from America to help feed the poor in Ireland. • Peel’s policies were successful between 1845-1846. • The famine caused growing support for Irish independence towards the end of the 19th and the early 20th century.

7. What was the most important consequence of the famine? Now you have sorted the consequences into short-term and long-term, can you decide which ones were of greatest significance in the history of Ireland?