Chapter 13: The Famine

Question 1

Results of the famine?

Answer 1

1. About two million people either died or emigrated during
   the famine.
2. People began to speak English more, so that they could
   earn a living in America.

Question 2

Name 1 famine relief effort

Answer 2

“Soup Kitchens” were set up to feed the starving people. These were run by religious and charitable groups (such as the Quakers) By August 1847, about 3 million people were being fed each day in total.

Question 3

Name 3 causes of the famine

Answer 3

Rise in population
Reliance on the potato
The potato blight

Question 4

What was the potato blight

Answer 4

In September 1845, a strange new disease, called blight, attacked the potato crop in Ireland. As the disease spread, the potatoes rotted and could not be eaten. Before long people began to
starve

Question 5

What was the name of the dreaded famine fever

Answer 5

typhus

Question 6

Name and explain a second famine relief effort

Answer 6

Public works schemes were set up for people to earn money by building roads, walls or
speak or read.
bridges. By 1846, 400,000 people were involved in these schemes. This was hard, physical work for people who were weak with hunger. They earned 1 shilling per day, but this wasn’t enough as prices had risen due to shortages.

Question 7

What was the Irish diaspora

Answer 7

Irish diaspora: the scattering of Irish migrants and their descendants across the world.

Question 8

What are cottiers

Answer 8

There were cottiers – paid by a few acres of land; there were seasonal labourers

Question 9

What years did the famine happen

Answer 9

1845-1852

Question 10

How many people died in the famine

Answer 10

Over one million people died during the Irish famine

Question 11

Consequences of the famine

Answer 11

1.Rise in anti-British feeling: Many blamed the British government for the people’s suffering during the Famine.
2. Change in farming practices:e.g Many landlords used their land for cattle farming after the Great Famine. Ireland shifted from largely tillage/crop farming to cattle-rearing/pasture farming.
3. Decline of the Irish language Over time, people began to favour English over Irish because it would help them find work elsewhere if they needed to emigrate.