Irish Flee to America
While the slide to the right provides an overview of the factors causing the Irish to flee to America, the potato famine was the major factor. Starvation is a terrible thing leading to so many deaths.
From 1815 onward, Ireland witnessed a progressive decline of its farming class. Ireland’s Great Potato Famine also known as the Great Hunger of 1845-1852 (An Gorta Mor) fueled the Irish emigration during this period. The Great Potato famine was caused by “late blight, a disease of potatoes that swept across Ireland like a scythe” fueled by a fungus. As background, the prevalence of the potato crop in Ireland dates back to the mid-1500s. Toward the end of the 17th century, the potato began to become an important crop in Ireland and by the 18th century it was the main staple in the Irish diet. Potatoes during this time were 60 percent of their food supply for about 8.1 million people, with 3.3 million Irish relying on it. It is no wonder the Irish fled with such despair. |