Free Economics Dissertations - Many Blame This Last Wave Of Emigration And Epidemic Crop Failure To The
Many blame this last wave of emigration and epidemic crop failure to the government's reluctance to implement relief measures for famine and reformation. Consequently it was the government itself which later on suffered the most as it witnessed millions die of starvation. Emergency measures had to be introduced in the form of establishment of soup kitchens. The upper class and the British fail to extend assistance with the belief that interference with the market forces would further escalate economic disparity. Ireland therefore had to face a long period of severe poverty and economic dependence on Britain.
The Irish dependence on the government as well as its reliance on neighbouring market for earnings not only put it at a disadvantage but also made it possible for Britain to take advantage of the country. According to Christine Kinealy (1994), the Irish poor economic conditions gave the British an upper hand in population control and social engineering. They bought bankrupt estates, and eliminated small holdings; they evicted poor farmers and cleared lands of sub-standard tillage; and, they raised the cost of living and created even bigger gaps between the poor and the landowners which resulted in further starvation (Newsinger 1996). The British government spent around 7 million pounds on famine relief but on the other hand it also spent 20 million pounds to compensate for slave owners when slavery was abolished in 1833. Consequently, slave owners became richer while the slaves received no compensation (Newsinger 1996).
Despite these atrocities, there was considerable number of individuals, communities, and organizations who donated for the famine relief. The Choctaw Indians from the United States; the Catholic Church; and the Quakers; Turkish Sultan etc. all rose and contributed generously on the occasion. Yet the amounts could not compensate for the large number of evictions and starvations resulting in another wave of migration to Quebec and St. John.
Impact of Famine
Considering the above scenario and the factors that surrounded Ireland at the time of the Great Famine economic disparity had been imperative. Joel Mokyr (1983) analyzed the factors that contributed to the deteriorating economic condition in Ireland noted that famine had not been the sole cause. Instead, Mokyr carefully analyzed the geographical, social, political and cultural factors contributing to the economic conditions prevalent in Ireland in the first half century, and responsible for its vulnerability.
Firstly, Ireland greatly relied on potato crops for its population's diet. While the land suited the growth of potato, several failed crops created a shortage which the over populated country could not sustain.
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