The Irish Potato Famine

My research project is about the cause and effects of the Irish Potato Famine. The Irish Potato Famine occurred in mid nineteenth century Ireland and caused nearly one million to die and nearly two million to emigrate. This event in history is significant because it had an impact on the whole world because of the immigration that was caused by the Potato Famine. Many of the Irish emigrants were discriminated against for their religious beliefs and the possibility that they might bring diseases over from Ireland. My thesis states that The Irish Potato Famine was caused by Potato Blight, also known as Phytophthora Infestans, which had many harmful effects of the Irish population including greater health risks, being evicted from their homes, and many of the Irishmen emigrating to foreign countries to escape the tragedy of the Irish Potato Famine.

This topic is interesting because it was one of the most devastating famines in the world. One of the reasons for this famine's vast devastation was because nearly half of Ireland's population was dependent upon the Potato, which was an ideal crop for Ireland's damp and cool climate. So when Potato Blight destroyed half of the potato harvest in 1845, many of the Irish died due to starvation. Another cause of death during the famine was disease. The Irish became more susceptible to disease because they were weakened by starvation. Ireland and the rest of the world will forever remember the impact of the Irish Potato Famine.