The Great Irish Potato FamineThe Great Irish Potato Famine1845-18501845-1850

By: Tim DavisBy: Tim Davis

Picture of citizens Picture of citizens attacking a potato attacking a potato store during the store during the potato famine.potato famine.

Started in 1845.Started in 1845. Potatoes were a very important food in Ireland Potatoes were a very important food in Ireland

at this time.at this time. Very strange weather during the summer of Very strange weather during the summer of

1845.1845. It was very hot, and then it rained for three weeks It was very hot, and then it rained for three weeks

straight.straight. Caused by Late Blight.Caused by Late Blight.

Disease that kills the leaves and the edible roots/ Disease that kills the leaves and the edible roots/ tubers.tubers.

Late Blight is caused by Plytophthora infestans.Late Blight is caused by Plytophthora infestans. Potatoes turned black from it.Potatoes turned black from it.

Worst famine to occur in Europe in Worst famine to occur in Europe in the 19the 19thth century. century.

Plytophthora fungus arrived from Plytophthora fungus arrived from North America accidently.North America accidently.

The poor people depended on The poor people depended on potatoes for their main food.potatoes for their main food.

The U.S. sent cornmeal to Ireland, The U.S. sent cornmeal to Ireland, but the Irish people didn’t like it.but the Irish people didn’t like it.

Potato leaves affected by late blight

By 1847, 3,000,000 Irishmen were going to By 1847, 3,000,000 Irishmen were going to soup kitchens.soup kitchens.

People blamed fairiesPeople blamed fairiesthat they believed in forthat they believed in forthe famine (One fairy oftenthe famine (One fairy oftenblamed was Fear Liath blamed was Fear Liath (Gray Man).(Gray Man). Late blight is a type ofLate blight is a type ofpathogenic water mold.pathogenic water mold.

Map of effected areas of Ireland.Map of effected areas of Ireland.

Also known as the Irish Holocaust.Also known as the Irish Holocaust.Prime Minister Sir Rorbert Peele tried to Prime Minister Sir Rorbert Peele tried to

stop the famine from 1845-1846.stop the famine from 1845-1846.This famine was so well known because This famine was so well known because

it was so large and destructive.it was so large and destructive.

Regular potatoes and potato affected by late blight

24 other crop failures 24 other crop failures had occurred had occurred beginning in 1728, beginning in 1728, but none were but none were throughout Ireland throughout Ireland like this one.like this one.

Nobody knows what Nobody knows what the exact number of the exact number of the people who died the people who died during the famine during the famine was, but it was very was, but it was very large.large.

Most of the victims were Irish Catholics.Most of the victims were Irish Catholics.

Many lived in poverty and couldn’t read and/or Many lived in poverty and couldn’t read and/or write.write.

Most people were used to eating from 7 to 15 Most people were used to eating from 7 to 15 pounds of potatoes everyday per person pounds of potatoes everyday per person before the famine occurred.before the famine occurred.

Potatoes were harvested two times each fall.Potatoes were harvested two times each fall.

They were the main food in Ireland in the time, They were the main food in Ireland in the time, so when they were gone many people had no so when they were gone many people had no other source of food.other source of food.

Before the famine, Ireland was the most Before the famine, Ireland was the most densely populated country in Europe.densely populated country in Europe.

Many Irishmen came to the United Many Irishmen came to the United States, and many of those landed in States, and many of those landed in Boston.Boston.

Boston was very affected by the Irish Boston was very affected by the Irish and now has many Irish pubs.and now has many Irish pubs.

Ireland had great, farmable land and Ireland had great, farmable land and people had a lot of land for farming.people had a lot of land for farming.

““...no issue has provoked so much ...no issue has provoked so much anger or so embittered relations anger or so embittered relations between the two countries between the two countries (England and Ireland) as the (England and Ireland) as the indisputable fact that huge indisputable fact that huge quantities of food were exported quantities of food were exported from Ireland to England from Ireland to England throughout the period when the throughout the period when the people of Ireland were dying of people of Ireland were dying of starvation.”starvation.”

Cecil Woodham- SmithCecil Woodham- Smith

Irish nationalist, activist, and writer. Irish nationalist, activist, and writer. Member of Young Ireland and the Irish Member of Young Ireland and the Irish

Confederation.Confederation. Was a convicted felon.Was a convicted felon. His journal from his time in prison is now His journal from his time in prison is now

one of Irish nationalism’s most famous one of Irish nationalism’s most famous books.books.

Diarmuid O’Donovan was a survivor of Diarmuid O’Donovan was a survivor of the famine.the famine.

He blames the English Landlords and He blames the English Landlords and the richer citizens for the famine.the richer citizens for the famine.

His family had a small wheat crop.His family had a small wheat crop. The landlord sent men to guard their The landlord sent men to guard their

wheat until they paid their rent.wheat until they paid their rent. Many other landlords were the same Many other landlords were the same

way.way.

Population fell from 8,400,000 to Population fell from 8,400,000 to 6,600,000 in just seven years (1844- 6,600,000 in just seven years (1844- 1851)1851)

Around 1,000,000 Irishmen died and Around 1,000,000 Irishmen died and about another 2,000,000 left Ireland for about another 2,000,000 left Ireland for other countries.other countries.

Most of the information comes from Most of the information comes from children and grandchildren of the children and grandchildren of the survivors. Many people don’t like to talk survivors. Many people don’t like to talk about it.about it.

1728- Crop failures begin.1728- Crop failures begin. 1845- Great Irish Potato Famine begins.1845- Great Irish Potato Famine begins. 1845-1846- Sir Robert Peele tried to 1845-1846- Sir Robert Peele tried to

stop the famine.stop the famine. 1849- Famine ended.1849- Famine ended. 1844- 1851- Population of Ireland fell 1844- 1851- Population of Ireland fell

greatly.greatly.

""Irish Potato FamineIrish Potato Famine." ." Encyclopedia Encyclopedia BritannicaBritannica. 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica . 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. 15  Nov.  2007  Online School Edition. 15  Nov.  2007  <<http://school.eb.com/eb/article-9003032http://school.eb.com/eb/article-9003032>.>.

"Great Irish Famine." "Great Irish Famine." Wikipedia, The Free Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaEncyclopedia. 14 Nov 2007, 11:49 UTC. . 14 Nov 2007, 11:49 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Nov 2007 <Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Nov 2007 <http://http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?titleen.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title==Great_Irish_Famine&oldidGreat_Irish_Famine&oldid=171415553=171415553>.>.

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Black PotatoesBlack Potatoes. . Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

"John Mitchel." "John Mitchel." Wikipedia, The Free Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaEncyclopedia. 23 Nov 2007, 09:07 UTC. . 23 Nov 2007, 09:07 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 3 Dec 2007 <Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 3 Dec 2007 <http://http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?titleen.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title==John_Mitchel&oldidJohn_Mitchel&oldid=173250562=173250562>.>.

""Irish literatureIrish literature." ." Encyclopædia Encyclopædia BritannicaBritannica. 2007. Encyclopædia . 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 3  Dec.  Britannica Online School Edition. 3  Dec.  2007  2007  <<http://school.eb.com/eb/article-272055http://school.eb.com/eb/article-272055>.>.