The Famine

Question 1

Causes of the famine

Answer 1

The Irish population was dependent on farming, mainly potatoes
Large rise in population, land divided into smaller plots to survive of off
Cottiers worked in exchange for land; so when the potatoes failed they had no way to buy food

Question 2

Course of the famine - Timeline

Answer 2

1845: Potatoes started rotting
1846: ⅔ of the potatoes were lost to blight. Poorest began to starve, disease spread.
1847: The blight was nearly gone, but there were hardly any seeds. Peope starved, disease spread.
1848-1850: Starvation + disease worsened. Famine ended in 1950

Question 3

Course of the famine

Answer 3

Typhus + disease killed many due to dirty water and unclean conditions
When tenant farmers couldn’t work anymore, they were evicted. Cottages were burned and roofs pulled in.
Those who could afford to left on coffin ships.

Question 4

Famine relief from England

Answer 4

British government feigned lack of knowledge.
In 1845, Prime Minister Peel sent over corn - too expensive to buy
Workhouses were set up

Question 5

Charity aid

Answer 5

1846: Quakers set up soup kitchens+ raised money for the Irish
Groups from across the world, including the pope and Choctaw Nation, raised money for the Irish

Question 6

Consequences of the famine

Answer 6

Drop in population - 1mil died
Increased emigration - 1mil left
Decline of the Irsh language + culture
End of subdivision
Changes to agriculture
Increased anti-British feeling

Question 7

Large farmers

Answer 7

Farmers who rented over 30 acres

Question 8

Small farmers

Answer 8

Rent between 5 and 30 acres

Question 9

Cottiers

Answer 9

Labourer who rents 1 acre + is payed with land

Question 10

Potato blight

Answer 10

Fungus that grows in damp weather + ruins potatoes

Question 11

Workhouse

Answer 11

Place where people worked in exchange for basic food + shelter