Irish Potato Famine - Black '47 - Part 3 - Extra History
Extra History・9 minutes read
The 1846 potato crop blight in Ireland led to starvation, despite warnings in Parliament, with little government intervention as Sir Charles Trevelyan focused on minimal intervention and free market principles, exacerbating the famine and prompting international aid efforts.
Insights
- Daniel O'Connell warned about an impending famine in Ireland, but governmental action was limited, contributing to the severity of the crisis.
- Sir Charles Trevelyan's adherence to Malthusian principles and emphasis on free market protection exacerbated the Irish famine, resulting in high food prices and scarcity, intensifying the suffering of the population.
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Recent questions
What caused the Irish potato crop failure?
Blight
Who warned of the impending famine in Parliament?
Daniel O'Connell
What was Sir Charles Trevelyan's approach to the Irish famine?
Minimal intervention
What symbolized the tragedy of the Irish famine?
Skibbereen
How did the Irish government respond to the famine?
Little help
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Summary
00:00
The Great Irish Famine: Tragedy and Neglect
- July 1846, Ireland's early summer harvest begins, reports of blight circulate, but the east remains temperate.
- Lightning and rain bring a fungus that decays the 1846 potato crop, leading to starvation.
- Daniel O'Connell warned of impending famine in Parliament, but the government did little to help.
- Starvation grips Ireland, with mothers losing babies, men finding no succor, and food depots running low on reserves.
- Sir Charles Trevelyan, influenced by Malthusian principles, believes in minimal intervention and aims to reform Irish society through economic changes.
- Trevelyan's relief plan focuses on protecting the free market, leading to high food prices and scarcity.
- The famine worsens, leading to destitution, evictions, violence, and disease, with Skibbereen becoming a symbol of the tragedy, prompting international aid efforts.
