The famine: causes, relief & impacts

What were four causes of the Irish Famine?

Rise in population, widespread poverty, reliance on the potato, potato blight.

What were four impacts of the Irish Famine?

Population decline, farming changes, anti-British sentiment, decline of the Irish language.

How much did Ireland’s population drop between 1845 and 1850?

By two million: one million died, and one million emigrated.

Name two diseases that killed people during the famine.

Typhus and cholera.

Why did diseases like typhus and cholera spread during the famine?

They spread as people moved to towns seeking work and overcrowded workhouses.

What were coffin ships?

Overcrowded ships that carried emigrants; many died of disease and poor conditions during the journey.

What were four relief efforts during the famine?

Maize imports, public works schemes, workhouses, charity aid/ soup kitchens.

What was the role of the Quakers during the famine?

They opened soup kitchens and raised money and supplies for those in need.

How did international donations help during the famine?

Countries like the USA, Ottoman Empire, and Pope Pius IX sent money and food supplies.

What were workhouses, and why were they harsh?

Shelters for the destitute, offering food and shelter in exchange for labor, but they were intentionally harsh to discourage dependency.

What problems arose in workhouses during the famine?

Overcrowding, disease outbreaks, and family separation