The document summarizes the Irish Potato Famine that occurred from 1845 to 1852. It was caused by a potato blight that destroyed the potato crops, which the Irish population relied on for food and income. As a result of the potato famine, over 1.5 million Irish people died of starvation or disease and many families lost their homes, jobs, food and money. The famine caused massive emigration from Ireland and is still commemorated today for its devastating impact on the Irish population and culture.

1. Cate Llewellyn
Mrs. Niederoest
English Period 6
14 December 2011

2. Period of:
• Disease
• Mass starvation
• Immigration

3. • Causes:
• Bight on potatoes
• Unsuccessful crop growing for potato farmers

4. • Irish relied solely on potatoes for:
• Food
• Income to pay for clothes, housing
• Potato farming was their life

5. • Caused families to lose their:
• Jobs- they potato farmed for a job
• Homes- could not pay rent
• Food- main food was potatoes
• Money- from farming
• Caused more than 1,500,000 deaths
• Great loss of population in Ireland

6. • Sometimes referred to as Ireland’s Holocaust
• In America, we call it the Irish Potato Famine, or the Great
Irish Famine.
• Irish people sometimes call it the “Great Hunger”

7. • Took place from 1845 to 1852
• During Victorian Era
• In Ireland

8. • Government stepped in for a short period of time
• Then, they cut the relief works
• The Quakers, or Society of Friends, tried to fill the gap
• Caused the government to reinstate the relief works
• Still wasn’t enough

9. • There are now many memorials to famine
victims
• Will never be forgotten
• Affected many of our Irish ancestors