Causes of Famine, Research Paper Example

Abstract

The paper discusses the causes and consequences of the Potato famine in Ireland (1845). The success of governmental interventions is evaluated. The paper shows the Irish famine experience as an example of how governments should not behave in conditions of famine. The paper shows that the laissez-faire policy of the British government did not leave the Irish people a single chance to survive.

Introduction

The period between 1845 and 1851 was one of the most sorrowful periods in the history of Ireland. The two subsequent crop failures brought the famine of the extent and volume, which the Irish people had not known before. The potatoes, on which mostly poor Irish people relied in their fight for survival, were too scarce to provide reasonable living. Without the due support of the British government, thousands of the Irish had to either die to or leave for America in their search for a better life.

The potato famine lasted six years, beginning in 1845, killing one million men and making another million to leave the country (Laxton, 1998). Just before the famine, only one quarter of the Irish population could read and write, and the prevailing majority lived in continuous poverty, with potatoes being the central food product and the major hope for survival (Gray, 1995). It is generally estimated, that an Irish workman needed to consume about 14 pounds of potato products to compensate for the energy losses due to the hard physical work (Laxton, 1998), and when potatoes became scarce, the national population could not find any other means to save themselves from the inevitable death.

The reasons of the great potato famine in Ireland are both climatic and political. Prior to the tragedy, Ireland was involved in regular rebellions against the British rule (Gray, 1995). Unfortunately, given the economic and military dominance of Britain, the majority of these rebellious attempts were doomed to a failure, and in 1845 those political troubles were supplemented with the upcoming famine. The major cause of the potato famine in Ireland was “an airborne fungus originally transported in the holds of ships traveling from North America to England” (Gray, 1995). The winds from England carried the fungus to the territory of Ireland, namely Dublin, and through the fields, with the growing speed, the fungus spread and settled on healthy potato plants. The process of fermentation, which began under the influence of the fungus, provided continuous nourishment to the dangerous organisms and all potato plants immediately blackened and withered (Gray, 1995). Potatoes were no longer usable, creating conditions in which famine was inevitable.

The actions of the government were only a few, and all of them were either ineffective or even harmful. The public works campaign did not achieve its results. The corn meal, which was provided on a free-of-charge basis resulted in diarrhea and dysentery among peasants, and in no way could compensate for the lack of potato products in Ireland (Laxton, 1998). The British government exercised the principles of the so-called laissez-faire policy, in which the famine as a natural disaster had to resolve itself by natural means. As a result, more than one million died and another million was compelled to flee to America searching for a better life (Laxton, 1998).

The Potato famine is the bright example of how governments should not behave in conditions of a disastrous human tragedy. The Potato famine also showed how political decisions and considerations can influence the lives of millions: the British were reluctant to help the Irish during the famine because of the continuous opposition between the two nations. The Potato famine experience also shows that governments can do a lot to alleviate the economic and social pain of crises in different countries. The British government did possess resources necessary to support the Irish during the famine. For example, the British government could provide the Irish people with the products and food support, which was consistent with their nutrition patterns. In other words, not Indian corn but potatoes should have been used to help poor people avoid diarrhea and dysentery. Also, the British government could have used chemical instruments against the fungus that was spreading across Irish fields. Finally, financial support could help the Irish people purchase new seed potatoes, which the Irish had to eat in order to save themselves from death. Although not all famines are man-made, saving people from dying is always possible. In such conditions, governments are expected to develop and implement complex strategies, in order to supply people with all resources they need to go through difficulties.

Conclusion

Fungus was the major cause of Potato famine in Ireland in 1845. The British government was reluctant to save the Irish people from trouble. While the fungus was quickly spreading across Irish fields, people had to suffer the symptoms of diarrhea and dysentery, which were the direct results of them consuming the Indian corn – the product, which their organisms could not accept. The Potato famine became an example of how governments should not behave. It is also clear that governments should develop complex strategies to support their people in difficult conditions.

References

Gray, P. (1995). Irish famine. Harry N. Abrams.

Laxton, E. (1998). The famine ships: The Irish exodus to America. Holt Paperbacks.