Why were people evicted during the Irish famine?

There were a number of reasons why landlords choose to evict tenants during the Famine, chief amongst them was the arrears of rent. The scale of arrears in the eastern half of Ireland by the mid-1840s has been estimated at 15-20% of an annual rental, whereas in the west it was usually more than half.

How many Irish people were evicted during the famine?

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. The Ballinlass incident (Irish: Eachtra Bhaile an Leasa) was the eviction of 300 tenants on 13 March 1846 in Ireland, in the context of the Great Famine in Ireland (1845–1849).

What did landlords do during the famine?

For many, landlords became opportunistic, not wanting to ruin their lavish lifestyles with the burden of the poor. They cruelly evicted tenants and burnt their homes to make sure they did not try to re occupy the land.

How did the Irish potato famine affect immigration?

The potato blight which destroyed the staple of the Irish diet produced famine. Hundreds of thousands of peasants were driven from their cottages and forced to emigrate — most often to North America. Unlike the earlier migration, these people had no skills, no previous experience in adapting to a new country.

Why are they called coffin ships?

During Ireland’s Great Potato Famine of 1845-49, they called them “coffin ships.” They were named for the accommodations provided the passengers as well as the fate that befell many on board. Some ships carried 1,200 steerage passengers, who were seldom allowed on deck.

What kind of houses did people live in during the famine?

Those who dwelled in the iconic stone-built traditional thatched cottages were impoverished by our standards of living today, but those houses were usually well thatched, better built and contained furniture and chimneys.

Why were people evicted in such high numbers in the 1840s?

When tenants could not pay their rent, they were usually evicted. However, huge numbers of people were also evicted from their homes by their landlords during the famine. …

How many people died in coffin ships?

100,000 people
Many famine ships of the time were known as “coffin ships” and saw many deaths due to their unseaworthy nature, overcrowding, lack of clean drinking water, unsanitary conditions and the rampant spread of disease. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people died on board these ships.

What diseases were on coffin ships?

As if the hard living conditions were not enough, passengers faced many serious problems on coffin ships. Due to the lack of hygiene, illnesses like cholera, typhus, and dysentery spread throughout the ships. People suffered from high fevers, huge pus-filled sores, and diarrhea.