The Potato Famine - An Irish Turning Point
The Great Potato Famine of the 1840's was a turning point for both Ireland and America. More the 1 million Irish died because of this famine. There are not accurate records, so no one knows exactly how many people died from starvation and disease; this number could even be as great as two million people dead! Another million people left Ireland for good to make new homes and lives for themselves in other countries, including America.
The tragic results of this famine were partly due to the huge poverty that the country alread struggled with. Some of this poverty and starvation was a result of the British policies in place in the colony of Ireland. When the British took control of the government and economy of Ireland, many native Irish Catholics suffered. There were injustices and the land became owned by the English or by Anglo-Irish people, who had moved from England to Ireland. Throughout the ninteenth century, policies made it harder than ever to make a living in Ireland. If people spoke out, they were punished. The famine actually caused a turning point in that it helped people realize that policies and practices in Ireland had to change! This also set in motion bitterness and anger that eventually led to the Irish revolting and successfully gaining independence from Great Britain.
In America, it was also a turning point. Over a million Irish emigrated to America during the Great Potato Famine. The conditions were still pretty bad for Irish prople in America but it was better here than there. Irish people lived in very poor areas and wore very dirty clothes. many Americans made fun of them as they came off the ships because of what they were wearing. Irish men took any unskilled job they could find to make any money. Irish people flooded anyware that was in decent living contitions. Many kids that came to America got diseases and usually didnt live past six years old. People didnt have any jobs and were depressed always being cooped up inside of a small house or area. The crime rates went up alot partially because of this. The living here wasnt much better.
The tragic results of this famine were partly due to the huge poverty that the country alread struggled with. Some of this poverty and starvation was a result of the British policies in place in the colony of Ireland. When the British took control of the government and economy of Ireland, many native Irish Catholics suffered. There were injustices and the land became owned by the English or by Anglo-Irish people, who had moved from England to Ireland. Throughout the ninteenth century, policies made it harder than ever to make a living in Ireland. If people spoke out, they were punished. The famine actually caused a turning point in that it helped people realize that policies and practices in Ireland had to change! This also set in motion bitterness and anger that eventually led to the Irish revolting and successfully gaining independence from Great Britain.
In America, it was also a turning point. Over a million Irish emigrated to America during the Great Potato Famine. The conditions were still pretty bad for Irish prople in America but it was better here than there. Irish people lived in very poor areas and wore very dirty clothes. many Americans made fun of them as they came off the ships because of what they were wearing. Irish men took any unskilled job they could find to make any money. Irish people flooded anyware that was in decent living contitions. Many kids that came to America got diseases and usually didnt live past six years old. People didnt have any jobs and were depressed always being cooped up inside of a small house or area. The crime rates went up alot partially because of this. The living here wasnt much better.