The Irish Famine: A Critical Analysis of the Genocide Debate
This three page undergraduate paper examines the Irish Potato Famine. The author notes that the Irish Famine cannot truly be considered an example of genocide, for the historical evidence concerning its origins and development confirms that this epic tragedy was directly caused by potato blight. Preventing the spread of the Mexican fungus that spread to Ireland and ravaged the Irish potato crops for a decade was beyond the control of British government authorities. There seems little doubt that British government policies contributed to the vulnerability of the Irish people to famine and that Londons responses to the famine were inadequate.