The Great Irish Famine Overview

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Questions and Answers

What was a primary reason for the eviction of Irish tenant farmers and laborers during the Irish Famine?

The spread of typhus and other famine-related diseases, which decimated the rural workforce.

The Irish government's decision to prioritize grain exports to Britain over domestic food security.

The inability of Irish peasants to pay their rents due to crop failures. (correct)

British landowners' desire to consolidate landholdings for sheep and cattle grazing.

What was the main reason for the Irish government's reluctance to provide direct famine relief?

The government's resources were already stretched thin by other pressing issues, such as the ongoing war in Crimea.

The government felt the crisis was a result of overpopulation and Irish people's inability to manage their own affairs. (correct)

The government believed that famine relief would encourage dependency and laziness among the Irish people.

The government favored using funds for public works projects rather than direct handouts to the poor.

What was the main impact of the Irish Famine on land ownership?

Smallholders gained more land as larger estates were subdivided.

The government acquired vast tracts of land for the development of workhouses.

Land ownership shifted to Irish peasants who benefited from the exodus of British landlords.

Land ownership became more concentrated in the hands of fewer individuals. (correct)

Which of the following factors contributed to the Irish Famine's long-term impact on the country's population?

The famine's direct impact on mortality. (B), Mass emigration from Ireland to other countries. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the information provided, what was the primary form of British assistance offered during the Irish Famine?

Offering loans to support local relief efforts and public works projects. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the key difference between the British Poor Law enacted in 1838 and the type of assistance provided during the famine?

The Poor Law emphasized the need for workhouses for the able-bodied, while famine relief focused on providing food aid. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main reasons why the Irish did not favor the imported cornmeal provided as famine relief?

The Irish people were not accustomed to eating cornmeal and found it unpalatable. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main economic impact of the Irish Famine on the Irish agricultural sector?

The famine led to a shift from subsistence farming to large-scale commercial agriculture. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary cause of the Great Famine in Ireland?

Potato late blight (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary role of the potato in Irish society during the early 19th century?

A staple food source for most populations (A) Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the heavy reliance on the potato have on Ireland's vulnerability to the famine?

Reduced the genetic variety of potatoes, making them susceptible to disease (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following BEST describes the response of the British government to the Irish famine?

A combination of aid and laissez-faire policies (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of landless laborers, known as cottiers, in Irish society during the famine?

They were employed by farmers to work the land, often in exchange for permission to grow potatoes. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements BEST reflects the impact of the potato famine on the Irish population?

It caused a dramatic decrease in the Irish population due to mass starvation and disease. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the Great Famine impact the relationship between Ireland and Britain?

It further reinforced a sense of Irish nationalism and resentment towards British rule. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the PRIMARY reason why the Irish people became so dependent on the potato?

The potato was easy to grow and provided a cheap source of calories. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Great Irish Famine (1845-1849)

The Great Famine was a severe famine in Ireland from 1845 to 1849, triggered by potato crop failures due to late blight.
The disease, caused by Phytophthora infestans, destroyed potato plants.
This was the worst famine in 19th-century Europe, deeply impacting Ireland's demographics and social structure.

Causes of the Famine

Ireland's tenant farmers, especially in the west, were reliant on potatoes as a staple food by the 1840s.
The reliance on a narrow range of potato varieties vulnerable to disease.
Limited diversity in potato varieties increased susceptibility to disease leading to a major food crisis.
Irish tenant farmers and landless labourers (cottiers) depended heavily on potatoes providing 80% or more of their caloric intake.
Cottiers had their own potato plots
Ireland's reliance on a single food source made the population extremely vulnerable to famine.

British Government Response & Impact

Initial efforts by Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel included importing corn from the US and providing some relief.
The subsequent Liberal government under Lord John Russell adopted a laissez-faire approach centered on Irish resources.
The British government's response was deemed inadequate by many.
Financial burden of relief fell largely on Irish and British landlords.
Evictions became widespread among tenant farmers and laborers as they were unable to pay rent.
Harsh British Poor Law forced the able-bodied poor into workhouses rather than receiving direct aid.
Reliance on imported cornmeal had nutritional deficiencies.
Significant private aid existed, along with assistance by the British government, however efforts were limited and often resented.
Irish peasantry continued to export food to Britain despite their own poverty and hunger during this time.

Demographic Impacts

The famine drastically reduced Ireland's population, from 8.4 million in 1844 to 6.6 million in 1851.
Agricultural laborers and small-holders in western and southwestern Ireland experienced the most significant population decline.
Landownership became concentrated in fewer hands.
Increased land use for sheep and cattle for export to Britain.
Approximately 1 million deaths from starvation and related diseases.
Probable emigration of 2 million Irish people.

Long-Term Effects

49 percent of emigrants to the U.S. between 1841 and 1850 were Irish.
Ireland's population continued to decline due to emigration and lower birth rates.
Ireland's population in 1921 was significantly lower than in the early 1840s.
The famine fostered widespread resentment against British rule.

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Description

Explore the causes and impacts of the Great Irish Famine that occurred between 1845 and 1849. This quiz delves into the potato crop failures, the reliance of Irish farmers on potatoes, and the subsequent demographic changes in Ireland. Test your knowledge on this pivotal event in 19th-century Europe.