Affects of Irish Famine in Canada
From the year 1845 until the early 1850’s, Ireland was hit with one of the most devastating travesties: the potato famine. Disease was spread upon Ireland’s main crop, the potato, which caused Ireland’s agricultural economy to hit rock bottom. It also caused many deaths among the Irish through starvation. To avoid death and start a new life, many Irish had to flee to The United States and Canada. Though many died while traveling across the Atlantic, thousands made it to land. With no money and no place to live, the Irish were about to make a big change in North America. Bringing only their religion and agricultural experience with them, the Irish fleeing the famine increased the power of the Catholic Church in Canada, catalyzed the effects of the industrial revolution, and strengthened the economy through the creation of thousands of jobs. To understand how the Irish famine brought change to Canadian society, one must first understand the state Canada was in prior to the famine. The fact is, before famine hit Ireland, the Irish had already been steadily migrating to Canada. After the war of 1812, Canada was looking to increase its population. The British government did this with grants to the poor people of Cork, Ireland. These grants would allow the Irish to come over to Canada with a plot of land waiting for them. Canada wanted to increase their population density, specifically throughout Upper and Lower Canada, to form a strong backbone for a militia, incase the United States chose to invade again. This migration also helped the Canadian economy. The timber trade was very popular among the Irish immigrant workforce, as was the trading of wheat. Factories and steam railways were beginning to be built, as well as establishments for small businesses. This post-war era allowed for Canada to work on increasing population, as well as strengthening the economy. This would be the economic foundation on which off of the Irish famine immigrants built.
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