Irish Potato Famine

[Moskitto]

During the Irish Potato famine, the British government refused to release oats which could have fed the starving people, because it would flood the market and lower the price of oats. Yeah, that's right, millions of people were starving and the government was worried about the price of the oats. Seems money is more important than peoples lives.

And no, what the government did during the Irish famine isn't judged as being wrong by today's standards, people at the time thought it was wrong.

[Borincano]

When did the Potato famine take place?

[pastradamus]

Well my puerto rican comrade,U cant exactly put a date on it but,It started around the early 1840's.But the worst year was 47,Or black 47.

In the end the population went from 8million to 2million when the famine ended.

[Borincano]

pastradamus,

Thanks. So pretty much, Ireland lost 75% of it's population to the famine and the mass migration in result. What started the potato famine?

[RedCeltic]

Well my puerto rican comrade,U cant exactly put a date on it but,It started around the early 1840's.But the worst year was 47,Or black 47.

In the end the population went from 8million to 2million when the famine ended.

Black 47 was also the year that my father's side of the family moved to Glasgow, Scotland, my mother's side moved to New York, USA..

In fact, the Irish famine is mostly the cause for the Irish to be scattered all over creation.

[RedCeltic]

What started the potato famine?

What they call "Brown Tide"... which is a fungus that causes the potatos to turn black.. came in from the ocean... actualy had originated in America.

The plant disease that killed the potatoes was caused by a fungus, Phytophthora infestans (fie-tof-thor-uh in-fes-tans).

(Edited by RedCeltic at 4:30 pm on Aug. 12, 2002)

[RedCeltic]

here's a website with some more information on it.

http://www.people.virginia.edu/~eas5e/Iris...ish/Famine.html (http://www.people.virginia.edu/~eas5e/Irish/Famine.html)

[Borincano]

Thanks RedCeltic. :)

[Felicia]

That's a pity. Western farmers here are going through a serious draught and the easterners are sending them tons of wheat to ease their suffering.

[pastradamus]

Quote: from RedCeltic on 10:12 pm

Black 47 was also the year that my father's side of the family moved to Glasgow, Scotland, my mother's side moved to New York, USA..

In fact, the Irish famine is mostly the cause for the Irish to be scattered all over creation.



Yeah when people decided to leave they had a choice of 2 main countries,Britain or America.

to go to;
BRITAIN IT COST ;5pence
AMERICA ' ' ;£5

a massive price range @ the time,but those that went to britain were treated like filth,& would end up in an extremely poor area & work place(should they be lucky enough to get it).

America on the otherhand was starting to compose itself with the oppurtunity of a work place for The Irish.
& a compleatly new life could await them.

[RedCeltic]

America on the otherhand was starting to compose itself with the oppurtunity of a work place for The Irish.
& a compleatly new life could await them.


The Americans at the time equated the Irish as "White-Negroes" they where not considered to be as respectable as say an Englishman or German.

While my Father's family did suffer under harsher conditions and racism, my mother's family came to New York only to see "No work for Irish" signs in windows.

I think that just the shear numbers of Irish that teemed into Boston and New York made it impossible for those attitudes to continue.


(Edited by RedCeltic at 5:30 am on Aug. 13, 2002)

[Supermodel]

Worse yet, I read somewhere that the English had ships of grain that they anchored off the Irish shores where the peasants could be tortured by seeing the crops but unable to access them.

One of the many lessons here is that imperialism often forces colonies into one or two crops or products, ensuring that the country will remain at an economic disadvantage practically for all time. Beware the corporate behemoth.

[pastradamus]

"No work for Irish" signs were still in england in the late 60's & early 70's.

My old man saw million's of the things when he left Ireland in search of a job(@14 years of age).

[RedCeltic]

Well yea, by that time the Irish where already established here. And, I know my Grandfather left Scotland because it was hard for an young Irish-Catholic boy to get a job.