This book is included in the Natural Disasters section.
Teacher's Introduction Between 1845 and 1850, more than a million Irish people starved to death while massive quantities of food were being exported from their country. A half million were evicted from their homes during the potato blight, and a million and a half emigrated to America, Britain and Australia, often on-board rotting, overcrowded "coffin ships". This is the story of how that immense tragedy came to pass. The necessary historical and political context for a study of the Irish Famine is provided to you in the Teacher and Student Summary, immediately following the Table of Contents. It would be very difficult for the student to understand any of the six study units that follow without first reading the Summary. If time constraints only permit the study of one or two sections of this curriculum, the Summary should be used first. Thank you for all your efforts to make this history come alive. Prepared by the Irish Famine Curriculum Committee, James Mullin, Chairman: 757 Paddock Path, Moorestown, NJ 08057 (609)727- 4255, FAX: (609)866-9538, email: JVMullin@aol.com Table of Contents Teacher and Student Summary (pp.3-18): EARLY IRELAND THE CELTS ST. PATRICK & CHRISTIANITY THE VIKINGS THE NORMANS STATUTES OF KILKENNY THE REFORMATION THE PLANTATION OLIVER CROMWELL PENAL LAWS JONATHAN SWIFT BERKELEY THE PHILOSOPHER SOCIAL STRUCTURE THE ASCENDANCY FARMERS AND COTTIERS POTATO BLIGHT LAISSEZ-FAIRE THE CORN LAWS LORD JOHN RUSSELL PRIVATE RELIEF EFFORTS EXPORTS EVICTIONS MORTALITY TREVELYAN THE TIMES OF LONDON “WHAT WE REALLY WANT” CHOLERA WORKHOUSES EMIGRATION GROSSE ILE CENSUS COMMISSIONERS SEE IRELAND BETTER OFF AFTER FAMINE QUESTIONS I. LAWS THAT ISOLATED AND IMPOVERISHED THE IRISH: This section shows how the Penal Laws, and the Statutes of Kilkenny, reduced the Irish to the status of disenfranchised non-persons in their own country, and it examines how “laissez faire” and repression of trade laws laid the groundwork for the Famine to take place. (pp.19-32) II. RACISM: This section provides numerous examples and cartoon illustrations showing how the Irish, as well as Africans and others, were made into racist stereotypes. (pp.33-60) III . MASS EVICTION DURING FAMINE: This sections shows the extent to which eviction was employed during the Famine, the reasons why it was employed, and its devastating consequences for the suffering people. (pp.61-69) IV. MORTALITY RATES AND “THE HORROR”: This sections shows death rates in relation to Ireland's population at the time of the Famine, and gives personal accounts of Famine scenes to help put a human face on the tragedy. (pp.70-79) V. EMIGRATION: DEPARTURE, CROSSING, AND ARRIVAL: This section describes the conditions faced by the famine-stricken people at disembarkation centers, on board "coffin ships" and at quarantine stations. (pp. 80-95) VI. GENOCIDE: This section gathers together several definitions of genocide, as well as statements made by historical figures and historians, and asks the students to relate facts, opinions and definitions. (pp. 96-105) VII. POETRY: This section features a selection of poetry inspired by the mass starvation in Ireland. (pp. 106-116)
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