The aim of this paper is to find out which factors contributed most to the intensity of the Great Irish Famine and to evaluate the measures of the two governments that had to deal with the Great Famine.
Firstly, a chronological overview is given. After this, several influencing factors like the pre-Famine situation in Ireland or government measures will be reviewed and evaluated.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Chronological Overview
3. Influencing Factors
3.1 Demographic Factor
3.2 The use of the Potato
3.3 The Poverty Relief System
4. Government Action
4.1 Government Action under Prime Minister Robert Peel
4.1.1 Immediate Measures
4.1.2 The Repeal of the Corn Laws
4.1.3 The Relief Commission and the Board of Works
4.1.4 Public Works
4.2 Government Action under Prime Minister John Russell
4.2.1 The Blight Returns
4.2.2 Public Works
4.2.3 Soup Kitchens
4.2.4 Workhouses
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This study asks which factors contributed most to the intensity of the Great Irish Famine and evaluates the relief measures adopted by the British governments of Robert Peel and John Russell.
- The chronology of potato blight and successive harvest failures
- Population growth and pre-famine living conditions
- Potato cultivation and dependence on a staple crop
- The poor law and the workhouse system
- Government relief, public works and soup kitchens
- The Corn Laws and attitudes towards market intervention
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Demographic Factor
One of the most often stressed points in examining the pre-Famine context is the strong population growth in the decades before the Great Famine. When the population growth rates of several European countries are compared, it becomes clear why. In the years from 1700 to 1845 Ireland had one of the highest growth rates in Europe. Only England, Hungary and Finland came close to Ireland's growth. In 1750 about 2 million people were living in Ireland. The total number of inhabitants had reached about 5 million in 1800, kept growing and reached a high point in 1845 with about 8.5 million people.
While an annual growth rate of more than 1 percent can be considered rapid for pre-industrial societies, Ireland showed one of 1.5 percent or even more during the years from 1753 to 1791 and one of 1.4 to 1.6 percent for the period from 1791 to 1821. The numbers are even more astonishing when we bear in mind that about 1.5 million people left Ireland for North America or Britain in the years from 1815 to 1845. This outflow also contributed to the lowered growth rate of 0.6 percent from 1830 to 1845. The reasons for the strong population growth are seen primarily in an increased fertility and not so much in a decrease in mortality. In his classic work, The Pop-ulation of Ireland, 1750-1845, Connell claims that before the Famine, Irish married at a much younger age than contemporary Europeans. Connell's account however is flawed. The census of 1841 shows that the mean age at marriage in Ireland was comparable to other European countries. In the later part of the 18th century the average age at marriage was presumably lower and had just climbed in the decades prior to the Great Famine. Also, almost all the Irish eventually got married: In 1841 only 12 percent of older women and 10 percent of older men were not married. Kennedy supposes that these numbers also reflect the situation of earlier decades.
One major reason for the higher fertility was the increased use of the potato. Details of its use are given in the next chapter.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: The study introduces the famine and its historical significance, then sets out its central question and approach.
2. Chronological Overview: A chronological account traces the blight, harvest failures and relief initiatives across the famine years.
3. Influencing Factors: The chapter examines population growth, reliance on potatoes and the pre-existing poverty relief system.
4. Government Action: The study assesses the policies of Peel and Russell, including food imports, public works, soup kitchens and workhouses.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter brings together the discussion of pre-famine vulnerability and government relief.
Keywords
Great Irish Famine, potato blight, Ireland, population growth, potato cultivation, poverty relief, poor law, workhouses, Robert Peel, John Russell, Corn Laws, public works, soup kitchens, famine relief
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this study about?
It examines the Great Irish Famine and the factors associated with its severity.
What are its main topics?
The study covers demographic change, potato dependence, poverty relief and British government responses.
What is the central research question?
It asks which factors contributed most to the famine's intensity and assesses the measures taken by the two governments responsible for relief.
What research method does the author use?
The author reviews historical scholarship, presents a chronological account and evaluates the circumstances and policies discussed in those sources.
What does the main discussion cover?
It considers conditions before the famine and examines relief measures under Robert Peel and John Russell.
Which keywords characterize the study?
Key terms include potato blight, population growth, poor law, public works, workhouses and soup kitchens.
How does the study approach the role of the potato?
It discusses the crop's cultivation, its place in poorer people's diets and the risks associated with dependence on a limited range of varieties.
Why are the Corn Laws discussed?
The study considers their repeal as part of the political context in which Peel's government responded to the famine.
Which relief schemes are compared?
The work examines imported food, local relief committees, public works, soup kitchens and workhouses under the two administrations.
- Quote paper
- Matthias Giepen (Author), 2010, The Great Irish Famine and Factors that contributed to its Intensity, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/166011
