The Almighty, indeed, sent the potato blight, but the English created the famine.
John Mitchel
In the mid-1800s, most Irish people depended on potatoes as their main food source. When a deadly plant disease called potato blight struck in 1845, crops failed, and millions faced starvation.
The British government, which controlled Ireland, failed to provide enough aid. Over one million people died, and another million emigrated, mostly to the United States and Canada.
The famine deeply affected Irish identity, leading to increased resistance against British rule.
The Irish Potato Famine showed how economic policies and political decisions can worsen natural disasters, leading to long-term social consequences.
Vocabulary Bank:
- Famine – Kelaparan massal
- Starvation – Kelaparan
- Emigration – Emigrasi
- Blight – Penyakit tanaman
- Resistance – Perlawanan
Soal:
How do you think governments should respond to food shortages today?
