OET Chapter 3

What was the primary cause of the Irish Potato Famine?

• A drought

• Blight caused by Phytophthora Infestans

• Insect Infestation

• Overplanting

According to the text, approximately what percent of the Irish population relied on the potato for their food needs before the famine?

• 10%

• 20%

• 33%

• 50%

When did the firsts deaths from starvation occur during the Famine?

• Spring of 1845

• July 1846

• October 1846

• January 1847

Besides starvation, what was the other major cause of death during the Famine?

• War

• Disease

• Hypothermia

• Dehydration

What was the approximate population decrease in Ireland from 1841 to 1851?

• 500,000

• 1 million

• 2 million

• 3 million

What was the British government's primary response to the famine?

• Temporary relief measures

• large-scale state-funded emigration

• forced relocation of the irish population

• investment in irish agriculture

Why was the British treasury hesitant to fund state-subsidized emigration from Ireland?

• they believed that the Irish should solve their own problems

• it was considered a waste of resources

• they saw it as indirectly subsidizing irish landlords

• they feared it would lead to political unrest

What did legislation from 1838 allow Poor Law Guardians to do?

• Evict tenants from small holdings

• provide food rations to the starving

• raise funds to subsidize emigration of poorhouse inmates

• force landlords to provide aid to their tenants

Besides government assistance, what other factor significantly contributed to emigration during the famine?

• church-organized relocation efforts

• Landlord-initiated clearances

• philanthropic organizations sponsoring travel

• word-of-mouth encouragement from previous emigrants

Which social groups were disproportionately represented among Irish emigrants, both before and after the famine?

• the destitute and those in imminent danger of starvation

• families with young children

• people from countries with existing emigration patterns and those from more commercialized countries

• the elderly and infirm