The Famine in Ireland

The Irish Famine, also known as the Great Famine, occurred from 1845 to 1852 when a potato disease drastically reduced the crop yield, which was a staple food for many Irish people. This agricultural failure led to mass starvation, disease, and emigration. The British government, which ruled Ireland at the time, implemented policies that many criticized as inadequate. About one million people died, and another million emigrated, significantly impacting Ireland's population and culture. The famine highlighted issues of English rule, land ownership, and social inequality, shaping Irish identity and nationalism for years to come.