[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THE IMPACT OF THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE ON AMERICAN HISTORY

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 1997

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced legislation along 
with Representative Menendez to encourage America's schools to teach 
our young students about a tragic period in history that nearly 
destroyed the people and country of Ireland and forever changed the 
face of America.
  The mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850 initiated by the 
dramatic failure of the Irish potato crop is most commonly referred to 
as the Irish potato famine. Although Europe's poorest country in the 
middle 19th century, Ireland's 8 million inhabitants were curiously 
well nourished. The Irish people relied on the potato for the bulk of 
their diet since it was inexpensive and high in nutrients. However, in 
1845, the Irish potato crop was ruined across the entire countryside by 
phytophthora infestans, an airborne pestilence. At the time, no one 
knew what caused the potato blight and so little could be done to save 
the crops. Across the whole of Ireland, potatoes simply rotted on the 
ground.
  The failure of the potato crop led to the inability of most Irish 
families to pay the rent on their cottages which, after Britain's 
annexation of the island in the late 18th century, were often owned by 
British landholders. The vicious cycle of poverty was held intact by 
both the continuation of the potato blight and the active exportation 
of the Irish grain crop by the British Crown. Those who traveled across 
the island during the famine noted the horrifying situation in which 
they encountered the Irish people. Men, women and children literally 
starved to death on the roadside and families huddled together in the 
cold waiting to die. In fact, while visiting Ireland in 1845, the 
African-American abolitionist Frederick Douglas wrote that the people 
of Ireland ``are in the same degradation as the American slaves.''
  A number of British groups threw aside the prevailing prejudices 
against the Irish to provide relief from what had become a starvation 
of epidemic proportions in the colony. The Quakers, or the Society of 
Friends, even set up a vast array of soup kitchens throughout the 
countryside. However, it was not enough to stop the hunger and loss of 
farming wages. By the end of the epidemic in 1850, more than one 
million Irish had perished from the hunger, cold and disease brought 
about by the potato blight. It seemed the only way to elude the horrors 
of the famine was to leave Ireland--and so many did just that.
  Although the voyage was treacherous and relatively expensive, more 
than one million Irish emigrated to the United States during the 
famine. Initially, they settled in the cities of the northeastern 
seaboard such as Boston and New York. Later they pushed westward to 
Chicago, the Great Plains and the uncharted western territories. With 
them they brought their Celtic culture and determination. Aside from 
impacting the basic makeup of the American people, Irish-Americans have 
made significant contributions in American business, law, music, 
athletics, literature, religion and politics. In fact, U.S. Presidents 
John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, considered by many to be the 
greatest Presidential orators of their respective political parties 
this century, are both from Irish-American families.
  Perhaps, though, the legacy of the Irish famine's immigration wave to 
America is most evident in our everyday lives. Today, more than 1.5 
million of New Jersey's 8 million inhabitants claim some Irish descent, 
as do millions of other Americans. The resolution put forth today by 
myself and Representative Menendez recognizes the contributions made by 
Irish-Americans to our greater American heritage. Irish-Americans have 
left an indelible mark on our American culture and history, and for 
that reason our children should learn more about the tragic famine 
which brought so many of them to our shores in search of freedom from 
hunger, freedom from want and freedom from colonial rule.

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