The Great Famine (1845–1852) (jan 1, 1845 – jan 1, 1852)
Description:
What Happened: A potato blight devastated Ireland’s staple crop, leading to mass starvation and disease. Around one million people died, and another million emigrated, shrinking Ireland’s population by nearly a quarter.Why It Mattered Globally: The famine sparked a massive Irish diaspora, with emigrants settling in the United States, Canada, and Australia, shaping those nations’ cultures and politics. It also highlighted the failures of British colonial policies, fueling anti-imperial sentiment and inspiring future independence struggles.
Added to timeline:
Date:
jan 1, 1845
jan 1, 1852
~ 7 years