The Irish Potato Famine took place in 1845-1848. the potato became one of the main crops in Ireland in the early 1800's. in the beginning of the potato famine Lord John Russell had scientists inspect the crops, but he did not change the amount of export of grain and meat out of England. In the years 1848- 1850 the potato famine was long over only because 1/3 of the population had been shipped out of the country and many people died. Lord John Russell was the Prime Minister of England at the time of the famine. Lord John Russell was not only to blame for the Irish Famine. It was started much earlier with the "Penal Laws". That was in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when they defeated James II in 1690. The "Penal Laws" were passed by the small percentage of Protestants that supported William III. the "Penal Laws" have some laws such as: Catholics were not allowed to bear arms, Catholics were prohibited to go overseas to get an education and they were not allowed to teach or have schools in Ireland. Then there was and act to prevent any Further Growth of Property (1704) that stated, Catholics could not buy land or inherit any land from Protestants, or lease land for more than 31 years.  

 At this time the potato was introduced and became a major crop. The Irish depended on this staple of food. The reason that the Irish depended on this food was because most of their food was based on the potato. The Irish could grow more potatoes than they could plant wheat. When the "blight" occurred the Irish didn't have as much food since they mostly lived off of the potato. There also was a "Famine Fever" which was cholera, dysentery, scurvy, typhus, and there was an infestations of lice. All of these were soon spread to the Irish countryside.

The Irish Encountered the British and their Corn Laws. The British starved the Irish with the Corn Laws. The Corn Laws kept the British form exporting and importing grains into and out of Ireland. Exploring the Irish Famine and how the Irish were treated by the British during that time.

History Day Project :  By Jen Moore:  Senior Division: Individual Website