The Conclusion Ships returning to Ireland from their long journey to North America unknowingly brought with them a fungus with a devestating affect- a Blight that would forever change Ireland. Even the crop harvested during the few years after was pitifully small because of the fungus. In the Irish people's eyes, the British did nothing to help them. England had attempted to send corn to the Irish to make up for the lost profit. However, the Corn Laws prevented the Irish from making much profit, with most leadings going to the British, up until 1846. Sir Robert Peel, with the support of other parties and Lord John Russell, managed to repeal the Corn Laws, and the profits could therefore be received by the Irish. But the Irish had already lost so much. They would blame Great Britain for their late response for years to come.
With little to eat and nothing to use to pay rent, many Irish were forced to move to distant lands. The heritage of North America and Great Britain were forever shaped in this way, with Irish culture and influence being introduced. After discovering the consequences of cloned crops, the Irish learned to grow a more diverse crop to lessen the likelihood of a Blight of this measure. Even after the Blight seemed to have finally disappeared, any potatoes harvested were pitifully small. The Irish would go to great lengths to make sure this would never happen again. |
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"The faces of these people were subdued with hunger; pale, or rather of a ghostly yellow, indicative of the utmost destitution. They are starving. We hurried with horror from these frightful visitations, which are permitted by Providence for his own wise ends, sick at heart."
~Marquis of Waterford, April 1846~