How Did Ireland Become An American

Throughout the mid-1840s, Ireland underwent drastic conditions that altered the country and its citizens. Severe famine due to a disease afflicting the potato crop caused a substantial portion of the population to die, and an even larger portion emigrated to other countries in the world. Although other countries were also affected by the disease spreading through the potato crop, Ireland was more severely affected than other countries partially due to the economic conditions of the country imposed by Great Britain and the heavy reliance on the potato to meet the daily needs of the Irish citizens. Furthermore, the Irish citizens that chose to emigrate to other countries in order to escape the poverty-stricken conditions in their own country often faced discrimination, especially in the United States.

After the Acts were ratified, the two countries became known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Acts of Union demolished the Parliament in Ireland and stated that Ireland was to be ruled by the British Parliament located in London. Additionally, the Irish executive heads of states were appointed by the British government, but the residents of Ireland could elect their own representation to the Parliament in London. However, most of the representatives that were elected to represent Ireland in London’s Parliament were British landowners. This was an aftereffect of Penal Laws that had been enacted in Ireland by the British government. The Penal Laws prevented Irish Catholics, which composed most of Ireland’s population, from owning or leasing land, voting, or holding elected office positions. Most of the Penal Laws were repealed by 1829; however, “their impact on Ireland’s society and governance was still being felt at the time of the Potato Famine’s