What was the process of the Great Famine in Ireland? The Historical Impact of the Great Famine in Ireland

The Great Famine in Ireland, commonly known as the potato crop, occurred between 1845 and 1850. In these five years, the population of Ireland under British rule has decreased by nearly a quarter; This figure not only died of hunger and disease, but also included about/kloc-0.0 million Irish people who emigrated overseas because of famine.

The main cause of famine is an oomycete called Phytophthora, which will lead to potato rot and then crop failure. Potatoes were the main food source for Irish people at that time. This disaster, coupled with many social and economic factors, caused a large-scale harvest loss, which seriously hit the livelihood of poor farmers. The Great Famine had a profound impact on Ireland's society, culture and population. Many historians divide Irish history into two parts: before and after the famine. During the potato famine in Ireland, Britain still imported a large number of grains from the United States, some of which were even transshipped through Irish ports. But the hungry Irish can't afford food, and the aid provided by Britain is very scarce, which eventually leads to a high proportion of Irish people starving to death.

Potatoes are the only crops that Irish people depend on to make a living in the19th century, while the British, as landlords, only care about the export of grain and livestock. Natural disasters and political oppression forced people to revolt, but eventually failed. The tragedy that more than one million Irish people died of famine aroused Irish national consciousness. Under its guidance, 1922 established a free country of Ireland.

Event process

In some ways, Britain is one of the European countries that have intervened most in Ireland. Due to the lack of foresight, and in order not to hinder the development of free trade theory, Britain no longer intends to carry out necessary modernization changes in this country. This conservatism is also inextricably linked with their specific interests and biased opposition.

During the period of 1845, the main export areas are closely related to the dependence economy of an underdeveloped crop-potato. When the fungus suddenly appeared, the whole country was under its control.

1845 Ireland relied on only one crop: potatoes. More than 654.38+0.5 million agricultural workers have no other source of income to support their families, 3 million small farmers mainly rely on potatoes for their livelihood, and the proletariat consumes more potatoes than Britain. When the harvest is not good, it is of course the poor in rural areas who bear the greatest risk.

184510-10, and the relatively rich areas in the east suffered the most. From there, the disease spread to the west. The whole seedling rotted before it was harvested, and every household lost a year's reserve.

In Europe from 65438 to 1940s, people still believed in religion. There, people try to combine Catholicism with emerging sciences such as geology, botany or economics. Disasters such as potato diseases reflect the concept of famine in the Bible, which will only lead to discriminatory remarks with religious overtones. Most British public opinion thinks through the colored glasses of religion: the "disaster" that attacked Ireland is a warning to luxury and carefree life. More extreme remarks link the sufferings of the Irish people with their religious "mistakes". For many people, the lesson is obvious: in order to eat more nutritious cereal, this "abnormal" dependence on potatoes should end.

1in the summer of 846, the shortage of potatoes exceeded the most pessimistic forecast. Three to four million people were threatened with death because the unprecedented harvest in modern European history was destroyed. Only Britain has enough resources to deal with disasters, but the correct use of these resources requires management wisdom and political sincerity.

1In the summer of 847, people harvested disease-free potatoes. Many observers have come to the conclusion that the famine is over and Ireland should now rally itself on its own. But because there are not many plants, the harvest is still pitiful. In fact, most of the island has not really recovered this season, and hunger and disease are still rampant.

1848, the second attack of downy mildew completely obliterated people's illusions. More cruelly, downy mildew is concentrated in areas that are unable to resist the fourth famine. If the situation in those areas that are not very poor has improved a little, then the west and south have experienced a "dark year" disaster as deep as 1847. In 1849 and 1850, the disease struck again, making some areas on the verge of death.

In Black Forty-seven, Nicolas Cummins, a local official in Cork County, Ireland, described it this way: "I walked into a farmhouse, and I was stunned by what I saw. Six skinny ghostly people were lying on a pile of dirty straw in the corner of the hut. I thought they were dead, but when I got close to them, there was a whisper in my ear. These' people' are still alive ... "

In economics, the demand theorem means that when other conditions are the same, the price of a commodity rises and the demand for the commodity falls. This is what most people know, and it is also in line with the assumption that rational people act. However, a strange thing happened during the Great Famine in Ireland from 65438 to 0845. The price of potatoes is rising, but the demand is also increasing.

Ji Fen, a British economist, observed this phenomenon which was inconsistent with the demand theorem. This phenomenon is also called "Ji Fen's mystery" by economists, and goods with this feature are called Giffin goods.

Ireland 1845 Famine caused a large number of families to fall into poverty. Potatoes, a low-grade product that can only sustain life and life, will undoubtedly account for a large proportion of the consumption expenditure of most poor families, and the increase in potato prices will lead to a sharp decline in the actual income level of poor families. In this case, in order to survive, poor people have to increase the purchase of low-grade goods and give up normal goods. Compared with low-grade goods such as potatoes, there is no cheaper substitute, so income plays a greater role in potato demand than substitution, resulting in a special phenomenon that potato demand increases with potato prices. A commodity can only be called giffen commodity if it has the conditions of "being a low-grade product" and "the income effect is greater than the substitution effect".

Historical influence

In Ireland and at home, some revisionist historians try their best to downplay the severity of famine or emphasize force majeure, so as to get Ireland out of the shadow of the past. This view has been questioned by some more practical studies since 1980. Historical facts neither support the shouting of "Michelinism" nor agree with the platitudes that replaced it.

The concept of famine has been deeply rooted in the subconscious of all Irish people. 1994 the museum built in Strokestown, Ross common county is an outstanding example in this regard. The general public can see a series of exhibitions: explaining the famine in the social background at that time through words, materials and pictures.

Compared with other European countries, Ireland has given the third world the most warnings. Some non-* * organizations listed the similarities between Ireland and the third world in the 19 era. These organizations strive to publicize the history of famine all over the world and remind people what kind of ideology will lead to such a disaster. "

Before the great famine, immigration had already begun. However, since the end of 1846, immigration has reached an unprecedented scale. In the following 10 years, 1 0.8 million people left Ireland, and more than110,000 people immigrated during the famine. This is one of the most important population movements in the19th century. For these men, women and children, it is not so much a voluntary migration as an escape, and their experience is very tragic.

The Great Famine had an important influence on the construction of modern Ireland. Many important social changes took place before 1845, but the impact of famine nurtured the existing historical forces and gave them new significance. Unusual population curve, profound mental trauma, and scattered population, but keep in constant contact. Ireland after the famine was different from any other European country.