Ep. 52 The Great Hunger: Why the Irish Potato Famine Was a Completely Unnatural Disaster
- Author
- Shea LaFountaine
- Published
- Sun 10 Mar 2024
- Episode Link
- None
In this episode, I discuss the centuries long toxic relationship between Ireland and England that led up to the devastation of the potato famine in 1845. During the 7 year period of "The Great Hunger," one million Irish people died and two million left Ireland. But while the blight that caused the potatoes to rot may be considered a natural disaster, there was nothing natural about the circumstances leading up to the famine and the choices made during it.
Sources:
- Trinity College Dublin "Invasion of 1169"
- britishempire.co.uk "Ireland"
- History.com "After 168 Years, Potato Famine Mystery Solved"
- Digital History "The Irish Potato Famine"
- UK Parliament "The Great Famine"
- Mises Institute "What Caused the Irish Potato Famine?"
- History.com "When America Despised the Irish"
- Iowa State Historical Society "Irish Immigration: Beyond the Potato Famine"
- New York Times "Irish Return an Old Favor, Helping Native Americans Battling the Virus"
- Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast "An Unnatural Disaster"
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