The Irish Potato Famine, also known as the Great Hunger, began in 1845 when a fungus-like organism spread rapidly throughout Ireland. The fungus ruined nearly half of the potato crop that year, and about three-quarters over the next seven years. Because the Irish relied so heavily on the potato crop at the time, almost one million Irish died from starvation and other related causes by the end of the famine in 1852.
When the potato crops started to fail, Great Britain repealed the tariffs and fees in place on grain and bread. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough. The Irish were used to the hearty potatoes and the bread and corn given to them was light in comparison, so the Irish still starved to death, even with help from neighboring countries.
It also didn't help that Ireland was still exporting massive amounts of food out of the country, mostly to Great Britain. Historians have evidence that food exports may actually have increased during the Potato Famine.
The potatoes didn't fully return to normal until 1852 but by then the damage was already done. One million people died during the famine and another million emigrated from the island to escape hunger and starvation, mostly to Great Britain and towns and cities in North America
Picture of an infected potato.
Fun Facts:
- The fungus that caused the Irish Potato Famine is now extinct.
- The famine caused 25% of Ireland's population to either die or emigrate.
- Because of the Irish heavily relying on the hearty potato, other foods were too light for them and didn't cut it.
https://learnodo-newtonic.com/irish-potato-famine-facts
very interesting and also very sad
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