Famine Stats

Question 1

What were the causes of the Famine Sept.1845-1852?

Answer 1

• Blight (fungal disease - potatoes) introduced Sept. 1845
• Absentee landlords + middle-man system
• Cottier class and small landholdings
• Monoculture potato farming

Question 2

___ of the Irish population was dependent on agriculture in 1841?

Answer 2

Over 2/3 of the Irish population was dependent on agriculture in 1841.

Question 3

In ___, ___% of holdings in Ireland were <___ acres.

Answer 3

In 1845, 45% of holdings in Ireland were <5 acres.

Question 4

In the ____, there were ___ cottiers in Ireland.

Answer 4

In the 1840s, there were 300,000 cottiers in Ireland.

Question 5

Before the Famine, ___ of Ireland’s agricultural output were potatoes.

Answer 5

Before the Famine, 1/5 of Ireland’s agricultural output were potatoes.

Question 6

‘Lumper’ potatoes produce ___ tonnes of crop per acre.

Answer 6

‘Lumper’ potatoes produce 6-8 tonnes of crop per acre.

Question 7

The average Irish cottier ate ___ lb of potato per day.

Answer 7

The average Irish cottier ate 10-15 lb of potato per day.

Question 8

In 1845, ___ of the potato harvest was destroyed by blight.
In 1846, this ___ to ___.
1847 saw a ___ harvest with an ___ yield of potatoes.
In 1848, ___ of the potato harvest was destroyed again.

Answer 8

In 1845, 1/3 of the potato harvest was destroyed by blight.
In 1846, this increased to 3/4.
1847 saw a successful harvest with an average yield of potatoes.
In 1848, 1/3 of the potato harvest was destroyed again.

Question 9

What were the impacts of the Famine Sept.1845-1852?

Answer 9

1 million dead by 1851
Over 1 million emigrated
West of Ireland most affected - 64% of holdings in Connaught <5 acres
Ireland’s fragile economic system exposed- consolidation of land

Question 10

In ___, the population of Ireland was ___ million - in ___ this had declined to ___ million.

Answer 10

In 1845, the population of Ireland was 8 million - in 1851 this had declined to 6 million.

Question 11

Before 1845, there were ___ Irish speakers in Ireland, however only ___ are recorded on the ___ survey.

Answer 11

Before 1845, there were 3-4 million Irish speakers in Ireland, however only 1.8 million are recorded on the 1851 survey.

Question 12

The cottier class declined from ___ in ___ to___ by ___ .
During this period, the number of small farmers ___.

Answer 12

The cottier class declined from 300,000 in 1845 to 62,000 by 1851.
During this period, the number of small farmers halved.

Question 13

Between ___ and ___ , the number of farms >___ acres increased from ___ to ___.

Answer 13

Between 1845 and 1851, the number of farms >35 acres increased from 277,000 to 314,000.

Question 14

In the ___ years after the famine, the income for small farmers using pasture increased by ___.

Answer 14

In the 25 years after the famine, the income for small farmers using pasture increased by 2/3.

Question 15

What were the central features of Peel’s relief strategy?

Answer 15

• Formation of Scientific Commission 1845
• Relief programme to buy Indian Corn
• Relief Commission to create Public Works
• Repealed Corn Laws

Question 16

In ___ ___, £___ of Indian corn was bought.

Answer 16

In November 1845, £100,000 of Indian corn was bought.

Question 17

The purchased Indian corn in ___ ___ was not great enough to compensate for £___ of lost potatoes.

Answer 17

The purchased Indian corn in November 1845 was not great enough to compensate for £3,500,000 of lost potatoes.

Question 18

A programme of public works was established in ___ ___, funded ___ by government grants and the rest through voluntary donations.

Answer 18

A programme of public works was established in November 1845, funded 2/3 by government grants and the rest through voluntary donations.

Question 19

The issue of the ___ caused Peel’s government to ___ in___ ___.

Answer 19

The issue of the Repeal of the Corn Laws caused Peel’s government to fall from power in June 1846.

Question 20

The ___ __ ___ opened their first soup kitchen in ___.

Answer 20

The Society of Friends opened their first soup kitchen in 1846.

Question 21

Within days of opening a soup kitchen in Waterford, the ___ __ ___ provided a bowl of soup with bread for ___ people, which increased in a _____ to ___ people, at the price of £___ a week.

Answer 21

Within days of opening a soup kitchen in Waterford, the Society of Friends provided a bowl of soup with bread for 180 people, which increased in a fortnight to 600 people, at the price of £6.25 a week.

Question 22

What did the Gregory clause in the 1847 Irish Poor Law Extension Act and 1847 Poor Law Amendment Act state?

Answer 22

The Gregory clause stated that anyone occupying over 1/4 of an acre of land and refused to give up their possession was not deemed destitute and not eligible for relief by the Poor Rate.

Question 23

In ___, ___ people were maintained in Ireland’s workhouses.

Answer 23

In 1849, 932,000 people were maintained in Ireland’s workhouses.

Question 24

In ___, the Irish Poor Relief expended £___ a year, sourced from the Irish taxpayer.

Answer 24

in 1847, the Irish Poor Relief expended £1.7 million a year, sourced from the Irish taxpayer.

Question 25

In ___, ___ vessels left Ireland for Britain with foodstuffs

Answer 25

In 1847, 4,000 vessels left Ireland for Britain with foodstuffs.

Question 26

Britain spent over £___ to tackle the Famine in Ireland.

Answer 26

Britain spent over £10 million to tackle the Famine in Ireland.