Great Famine Chapter Summary

Learner Journal 4: Famine: The Irish experience 900- 1900.
What is the reading about?
This week’s reading is a chapter is taken from the book ‘Famine: The Irish Experience 900 -1900’. The chapter is titled ‘Conclusion: Famine and Irish History. The author highlights the state the country was in before famine. Clarkson adds that all Famines in Ireland was a result of hundreds of years of starvation. In this text the author aims to explain the due course up to the Great Famine. The author also aims to discuss the famines in Ireland and their causes. Clarkson wants to explain the Irish societies and their reaction to death. The author also talks about the economy and the lack of efforts to supply food. A final point the author adds is the uniqueness of the Great famine.
Arguments and evidence made by the author.
The author first used the impact of climatic factors resulted in crop failure. Clarkson then adds the works of William Wilde which explains that trenches rains hindered the crops growth in 1505. The author also points out Dr Lyons account on the increasing population from the 10th to the mid-13th century. This made food supply’s scares, which makes the chance of a famine more acute. Clarkson adds another account made by Wilde. Wilde claims the underline causes of famines can be a result of bad climate, invading armies ruining crops and diseases. Clarkson claims some of the social reaction was the restrictions of crops. An example he use to back up his claim was by Dr Dickson. Dickson states that distilleries limited the use of grains in their products. Another social reaction was the introductions of soup kitchens in the spring of 1847. Clarkson adds the economic changes of Irelands.