Irish Potato Famine Essay

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The Irish Potato Famine: The Ignorance of England The Irish Potato Famine, occurring in Ireland from 1845 to 1849, began as a natural catastrophe of great magnitude, with its effects exacerbated by the actions and inactions of the British government. Consequently, millions of people died of starvation while others tried to flee the merciless conditions through emigration (Donnelly). This event also inspired Jonathan Swift to compose a horrific solution in “A Modest Proposal,” which stated that the Irish should sell their children as a commodity to stimulate the food market and provide an income source for the poor. Since the 17th century, Ireland was suffering from oppression by the English government and its officials. Cromwell’s invasion …show more content…

Once in control, Trevelyan ordered the closing of food depots that had been issuing Peel’s Indian corn. He reasoned that this would prevent the Irish from becoming “habitually dependent” on the British government (Donnelly). However, in the summer of 1846, the blight struck ferociously leaving only enough potatoes to feed the Irish for one month (“Irish Potato Famine”). When faced with mass starvation, the British government attempted to employ a large-scale public works program for the unemployed Irish (Connolly). At one point in time, more than 700,000 Irish labored about in nonsense projects while never making enough money to buy food or pay rent (“Irish Potato Famine”). The project soon failed when there was no money in circulation, and no work could be provided (Connolly). Later that year, Prime Minister Russel enacted the Soup Kitchen Act of 1847 which ordered that the starving Irish should be fed for free via soup kitchens sponsored by local relief committees from landowners and merchants. This plan soon failed when landlords and merchants could not afford to run the project and were forced to join the poor Irish for survival (“Irish Potato

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