The so-called Great Hunger is not only the best-remembered famine but also the closest to us, with a distance of fewer than 170 years. The creation of new social and cultural conditions because of demographic decline, large-scale emigration and new economic policies lead to define the famine as a “watershed” in the history of Ireland.
This essay discusses the question of what different reasons resulted in the big calamity and what consequences it had had, and has had and how much this led to a lasting change in Ireland.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- What caused the Great Famine, and what were its consequences?
- Causes of the Famine
- Population Growth
- Dependency on the Potato
- Economic Situation
- Social and Political Structures
- Consequences of the Famine
- Changes in Population
- Social and Economic Consequences
- Cultural and Political Impacts
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay analyzes the causes and consequences of the Great Irish Famine, examining how these factors resulted in lasting changes for Ireland. The essay explores the interplay of various factors, including population growth, dependence on the potato, economic conditions, social and political structures, and the devastating effects of the potato blight. It also analyzes the profound impact of the famine on Irish society, including population shifts, economic and social changes, and the development of a distinct Irish identity.
- Population dynamics and the role of rapid population growth in Ireland leading up to the famine.
- Dependency on the potato as a staple food source and its impact on Irish agricultural practices and economic vulnerability.
- The economic, social, and political structures in Ireland prior to the famine, including the influence of British policies and the dominance of the landed gentry.
- The consequences of the famine, including the devastating loss of life, mass emigration, and the reshaping of Irish society and culture.
- The long-term legacy of the famine on Irish history, politics, and national identity.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The essay begins by discussing the rapid population growth in Ireland during the 18th and early 19th centuries. It explores the contributing factors, such as falling marriage ages and the availability of land for potato cultivation.
- The essay then examines the dependence on the potato as a staple food source in Ireland. It highlights the nutritional benefits and the role of the potato in allowing for increased population density and land utilization.
- The essay then discusses the economic and social structures in Ireland before the famine, emphasizing the disparities between the wealthy landowners and the impoverished majority. It also addresses the influence of British policies and the limitations of the Irish Poor Law.
- The essay then focuses on the impact of the potato blight, which devastated the potato harvest in Ireland. The essay discusses the role of the blight in triggering the famine and its devastating consequences.
- The essay further explores the consequences of the famine, including the massive loss of life, emigration, and the profound changes in Irish society. It examines the effects on population demographics, the emergence of new social and economic structures, and the development of a distinct Irish national identity.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The Great Irish Famine, potato blight, population growth, dependency on the potato, economic disparity, social structures, emigration, Irish identity, land tenure, British policies, Irish Poor Law.
- Quote paper
- Maximilian Scheller (Author), 2019, The Great Famine in Ireland. What caused it, and what were its consequences?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1254744
