| − | '''The Irish Famine''' took place on the island of [[History of Ireland|Ireland]] while under British control, from 1845-49.It was a catastrophic failure in the food supply that led to approximately a million deaths, vast social disruption and to massive emigration. About two million people migrated to Britain, the United States, Canada and elsewhere in the period 1845-1855.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/famine_01.shtml</ref> The famine transformed the economy of Ireland, its demographics and its politics. The people responded with a new demographic regime of lower birth rates (caused by later marriages) that, coupled with the mass emigration, caused the population to decline steadily. The political blame was a factor for many decades - even into the twentieth century. More immediately, the famine led to demands for land reform - that is, the government buying out the landlords and selling to the peasants. The famine was in the poorer western regions; the richer north and east had much less distress and indeed continued to export food. | + | '''The Irish Famine''' took place on the island of [[Ireland]] while under British control, from 1845-49.It was a catastrophic failure in the food supply that led to approximately a million deaths, vast social disruption and to massive emigration. About two million people migrated to Britain, the United States, Canada and elsewhere in the period 1845-1855.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/famine_01.shtml</ref> The famine transformed the economy of Ireland, its demographics and its politics. The people responded with a new demographic regime of lower birth rates (caused by later marriages) that, coupled with the mass emigration, caused the population to decline steadily. The political blame was a factor for many decades - even into the twentieth century. More immediately, the famine led to demands for land reform - that is, the government buying out the landlords and selling to the peasants. The famine was in the poorer western regions; the richer north and east had much less distress and indeed continued to export food. |