The Irish Potato Famine

THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE

Pre-Famine History

The potato was introduced to Europe sometime in the 16th century. There are many theories on how it arrived, but the one with the most credibility is from a case study done by Theresa Purcell. She explains how the white potato, also known as the Irish potato, originated in the Andean Mountains and was brought to Europe by the Spaniards. The potato was originally classified in the same family as the poisonous nightshade so people refrained from eating it (1). During the middle of the 18th century, European monarchs discovered the nutritional value of the potato and ordered that it be planted (2).

By the beginning of the 19th century the potato had taken root in most of Ireland, becoming the staple source of food for 90% of the population (Purcell, 2). The main reason for this is because the potato could support a family on a very small plot of land, and could be grown in almost any soil type and climate. To see why this was important you have to look at a little bit of pre-famine history in Ireland. After the Napoleonic Wars, Ireland was considered part of the United Kingdom. A lot of control over Ireland was exerted