Potato Famine Known to the Irish as “The Great Hunger”

Reasons Reliance on potato because relatively cheap, easy to grow and healthy crop 1845 fungus turned potatoes black Other crops – wheat, corn, oats not affected – landlords ship those out for a profit leaving the Irish only the blighted potato for subsistence Landlords still needed to make money to pay their taxes, so they moved out the families that could not pay due to crop failures and rented out their farms to those that could.

Reasons Charles Trevelyan – British official believed that the Irish caused their own problems needed to learn to depend on themselves not help from the government Reality will be – organizations from around the world will send assistance to the Irish over one million people died of starvation and disease and two million emigrated to the United States In the second half of the 19 th century over 4 million people will emigrate to countries around the world – It is estimated that in the United States, one person in eight is of Irish decent.

Family in a “Tumbled” house Roof has been removed so tenants will leave

Typical family living on the same land and working the same land for generations – they begin to believe it is their land -Reality it is not and now they need to pay rent and they have no income because of the failure of their crop.

A family evicted by their landlord – he still needs to pay his taxes, this is just a business to him Where are most of the landlords from?

An elderly woman homeless. Also note the dilapidated surroundings

Cartoons

Fight for Irish Independence Controlled by the British since the 15 th century and other invaders before that since the 11 th century, the Irish people were looking for autonomy British will move slowly throughout the 19 th century to improve conditions in Ireland Early on “the Liberator” for the Irish was Daniel O’Connell “Home Rule” - Ireland for the Irish was the cry of Parnell in the late 19 th century A rebellious group that rises up to work towards home rule are the Fenians – unfortunately their acts are violent

O’ Connell

Parnell

The Fenians

Irish Independence Eventually home rule will be agreed upon by the British – It was supposed to happen in 1914 – but was delayed until after WWI Result – The Protestant North does not want to leave British rule and a civil war will break out – Today there is still a divided Ireland = 1 What do you think this means?