| Revision as of 13:43, 11 May 2001 editJamieTheFoool (talk | contribs)2 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 02:29, 12 May 2001 edit undoJmlynch (talk | contribs)2 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
| the potato as their primary and sometimes only foodsource. It is estimated that the initial population | the potato as their primary and sometimes only foodsource. It is estimated that the initial population | ||
| of ], about 4 million was halved, with 1 million dying and 1 million emigrating, primarily to ]. | of ], about 4 million was halved, with 1 million dying and 1 million emigrating, primarily to ]. | ||
| During this time, ] |
During this time, ] forced the Irish to export corn (and other crops) which could have save the lives of many Irish. | ||
| efforts to save their starving fellow citizens. | |||
Revision as of 02:29, 12 May 2001
During the 1840's, a potato blight fungus struck across Europe. It turned this important food staple into a black, soggy, and inedible mess. In Ireland, the lower classes were particularly dependent on the potato as their primary and sometimes only foodsource. It is estimated that the initial population of Ireland, about 4 million was halved, with 1 million dying and 1 million emigrating, primarily to America. During this time, Great Britain forced the Irish to export corn (and other crops) which could have save the lives of many Irish.